Saint Paul, Minn., Legis. Code ch. 34 § 34.25
Stay of enforcement/penalty
Operative Text
(1) Voluntary vacation of premises. No penalty shall be imposed upon any owner who serves written notice upon the legislative hearing officer stating an intent to permanently vacate the premises within thirty (30) days. Written notice must be filed with the hearing officer within ten (10) days from the date on which the placard was placed on the property and shall include proof that notice of eviction was served upon the occupants of the condemned premises. (2) Stay pending appeal. Enforcement proceedings or orders to correct violations shall be held in abeyance if the owner shall file an appeal to the legislative hearing officer within ten (10) days of receiving the written order issued by the enforcement officer, except in the case of an order to vacate a structure which is deemed to be in an unsafe condition and dangerous to life or limb, the enforcement officer shall proceed to order the building vacated until it is made safe or a final determination is made by the legislative hearing officer allowing reoccupancy of the building. Abeyance of enforcement proceedings shall continue until such time as the hearing officer or building official shall have issued a determination or in the event the owner should not prosecute the appeal in a timely fashion.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 34 § 34.25 establishes two circumstances under which enforcement actions or penalties related to condemned or code-violating properties may be paused. First, an owner who commits in writing to permanently vacating a property within 30 days—and who notifies affected occupants—can avoid penalties during that process. Second, an owner who formally appeals a correction order within 10 days of receiving it can halt most enforcement proceedings while the appeal is pending, though this pause does not apply when a structure has been declared unsafe and dangerous to life or limb, in which case a vacate order remains in effect until safety is confirmed or the hearing officer rules otherwise.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers dealing with a condemnation placard or a written correction order under Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 34 § 34.25 generally act quickly, as both relief pathways have strict 10-day filing windows. Operators who intend to permanently vacate a property typically file written notice with the legislative hearing officer and document that eviction notices were served on occupants within that window. Those who wish to contest a correction order typically file a formal appeal with the legislative hearing officer within 10 days of receiving the order, understanding that an unsafe-structure vacate order will not be stayed regardless of any pending appeal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 34 § 34.25 directly affects occupants of properties subject to condemnation or code-enforcement orders, because an owner's decision to invoke either the voluntary-vacation or stay-pending-appeal pathway has consequences for how long residents may remain and under what conditions. Tenants in a condemned building should be aware that the provision requires owners seeking penalty relief through voluntary vacation to provide proof that eviction notices were served on occupants. Tenants who believe their rights are being affected by enforcement proceedings or an owner's appeal may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or the Saint Paul legislative hearing office to understand how a pending determination under § 34.25 may affect their housing situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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