St. Paul City Council simplifies multi-day amplified sound permits

Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press
·1 min read

If you’re looking to apply for a permit to make some amplified noise at a public gathering in St. Paul, you’re in luck. It just got easier to apply for a multi-day permit — no noise variance required.

Until now, organizers of multi-day events have had to submit separate applications for amplified sound permits for each calendar day of their event, each of them at a cost of $138.

On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council voted 5-0 to approve an ordinance amendment authored by Council Member Rebecca Noecker that simplifies the application process. Event organizers can now submit one application spanning the duration of their multi-day event, paying the $138 one time, even if the event lands on non-consecutive days.

“Having music every Friday night for the summer — not having to apply for 20 different permits — makes a lot of sense,” said Noecker, addressing the council when the ordinance amendment was first introduced on April 10.

Event organizers can apply for a permit, issued by city staff without city council involvement, as opposed to a noise variance, as long as noise does not exceed certain hours, durations or decibel limits. Noecker said she worked closely with the Department of Safety and Inspections on the permit changes, and DSI in turn roped in St. Paul Parks and Recreation.

No one from the public spoke at a public hearing on the proposal last week. Noecker and Council Member Nelsie Yang were absent Wednesday.

Related Articles