Get ready for winter! Tips for Saint Paul small businesses

Winter is here, and it's time to prepare for cold temps, snow, and ice. Check out these reminders and tips to make sure your business has a safe and successful snow season.

Prep your space for cold weather

  • Make sure you keep your thermostat set to at least 50 degrees, even when your location is closed. Too many small businesses in Saint Paul are impacted by frozen pipes every winter.
  • Guarantee that your business's heating equipment is running smoothly with a free HVAC assessment from CEE's One-Stop Efficiency Shop, sponsored by Xcel Energy. They can install ecobee3 lite smart thermostats for free as well.
  • Also, check out this list of things you can do to keep your facility's HVAC system running smoothly all winter. 

Stay informed of snow emergencies

  • Sign up for the City of Saint Paul's Snow Emergency text and email alerts at stpaul.gov/snow. (Did you know they're available in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Oromo?)
  • Follow updates on social media or call 651-266-PLOW (651-266-7569) for recorded status messages. 

Know the winter parking rules

  • Check out when and where you, your staff, and your customers should park their vehicles during a Snow Emergency with the Snow Emergency Parking Map.
  • Downtown streets are all Night Plow Routes. Do not park on downtown streets after 9 p.m. on the first night of when a Snow Emergency is declared.
  • Free off-street parking is available during the first 24 hours of a declared Snow Emergency from 5 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Block 19 Municipal Ramp (145 East 7th Street) in downtown Saint Paul. 

Comply with shoveling and snow removal requirements

  • Property owners or managers are responsible for clearing sidewalks of snow and ice in front of their business after winter weather events. Corner property owners must shovel curbs, walkways, and crosswalks to the street.
  • Saint Paul City Ordinance requires snow and ice to be removed from sidewalks within 24 hours. DO NOT shovel or plow snow into the street.
  • To report a sidewalk that’s a safety hazard and needs shoveling, contact the City Information and Complaint line at 651-266-8989. Be sure to provide the address of the property. 

Follow the smart salting tips for sidewalks and driveways

  • Shovel first! Remember that a little salt goes a long way—more salt does not produce more ice melt. One coffee mug of salt (roughly 12 ounces) is enough to treat a 20-foot driveway, and untreated salt stops working in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Want to learn more? Check out one of the smart salting trainings offered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Last Edited: January 3, 2025