Selling a house in Saint Paul, MN: what the city requires
Ramsey County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Saint Paul requires a Truth-in-Sale of Housing report before marketing a home. It is disclosure only, except that a working hard-wired smoke alarm is mandatory.
What Saint Paul requires
Truth-in-Sale of Housing (TISH) disclosure report (Chapter 189)
- Who does it
- Independent evaluator licensed by the City of Saint Paul. The city does not recommend evaluators.
- What is checked
- Observed condition of the dwelling. The only required repair in a single-family home is an operational hard-wired smoke detector.
- Cost
- Set by the evaluator. Third-party guides put it around $250 to $325.
- Valid for
- 365 days, for one sale by the owner on the report.
- Deadline
- Available to buyers within three calendar days of listing.
- Applies to
- Single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums with their own parcel ID, and townhomes.
- Exempt
- Sales to immediate family, and buildings of three or more units without individual parcel IDs.
- A missing or broken hard-wired smoke alarm triggers a letter, an electrician permit and an inspection.
- Condos in a common interest community also need a smoking policy disclosure form.
Who to call
Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections
Official page
Housing in Saint Paul
- Median year homes were built
- 1952
- Median home value
- $294,500
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66,204 of 125,249 (53%)
- Total housing units
- 133,051
With half the homes built by 1952, inspectors here commonly flag older wiring, missing GFCI outlets, handrails, and worn exteriors. Fix the cheap items before the inspection.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for St. Paul city, Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Need this done in Saint Paul?
Get quotes from a local licensed TISH evaluator, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
How the truth-in-sale of housing / time-of-sale process works
Several Twin Cities suburbs require a housing evaluation before a home is marketed. Some use city-licensed private evaluators. Others send a city inspector. The report is shown to buyers, and some items must be repaired.
- Hire a licensed evaluator, or schedule the city inspection, before you list.
- Display the report at showings and give it to buyers.
- Fix required items, which are usually safety hazards.
- If repairs are not done by closing, the buyer usually signs a form accepting responsibility and finishes them within a set time.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Evaluation or city inspection | $150 to $400 |
Read the full truth-in-sale of housing / time-of-sale guide
Other towns with the same requirement: Smoke and CO detector certificate
If the house fails
You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does Saint Paul require before I sell my house?
Saint Paul requires a Truth-in-Sale of Housing report before marketing a home. It is disclosure only, except that a working hard-wired smoke alarm is mandatory.
How much does the truth-in-sale of housing cost in Saint Paul?
Set by the evaluator. Third-party guides put it around $250 to $325. Typical related costs: evaluation or city inspection $150 to $400.
How long is it valid?
365 days, for one sale by the owner on the report.
What if my house fails?
You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.
Who pays, the buyer or the seller?
The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.
How old are the homes in Saint Paul?
The median home in Saint Paul was built in 1952, and the median home value is $294,500, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Twin Cities
- Apple Valley No point-of-sale rule
- Blaine No point-of-sale rule
- Bloomington Required at sale
- Brooklyn Center No point-of-sale rule
- Brooklyn Park No point-of-sale rule
- Burnsville No point-of-sale rule
- Columbia Heights Required at sale
- Coon Rapids No point-of-sale rule
- Maplewood Required at sale
- Mounds View Required at sale
- New Brighton No point-of-sale rule
- Roseville No point-of-sale rule
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Sources
- City of Saint Paul, Truth-in-Sale of Housing
- Structure Tech, Minnesota cities requiring Truth-in-Housing / Time-of-Sale (reviewed Feb. 26, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.