St. Louis Park Parking Garage Law Affects Parking Structure Owners

Find Out How This New Law Affects You

An ongoing regulation, Subdivision XI of Chapter 8 of the St. Louis Park, Minnesota City Code, mandates annual inspection and reporting requirements that every parking garage owner needs to follow to stay compliant.

Below we will talk about details regarding the St. Louis Park Law:

• Responsibilities of Parking Garage Owners
• Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements
• Cities Near St. Louis Park
• Next Steps

Responsibilities of Parking Garage Owners

Parking garage owners need to pay attention to the three key details to know when they need to act on their parking garage.

1. Determine if your parking structure falls under the requirements of the code.
        a. Per Section 8-396, License Required:
             i. "All multilevel and enclosed parking facilities within the city must be licensed."
        b. However, certain parking facilities are exempt:
             i. Per Section 8-397, Exemptions:
                  1. “Enclosed vehicle parking facilities less than 1,000 square feet are exempt from the licensing requirements of this subdivision. This exemption does not apply to enclosed multilevel vehicle parking facilities unless it is part of a single-family residential dwelling.”
             ii. Per Section 8-399, Inspections:
                  1. “Multilevel parking facilities less than five years old are exempt from the engineer inspection and reporting requirements set forth in this section.”
2. Retain an engineer to inspect your parking garage and write a report based on the code's requirements.
        a. Per Section 8-399, Inspections: 
             i. “Multilevel parking facilities must be inspected annually by a qualified civil or structural engineer who is registered and licensed by the state.”
3. Submit the written inspection report to the city as part of the annual parking facility licensure process.
        a. Per Section 8-400, Engineering Reports:
             i. “An applicant for a multilevel parking facility license must provide with the license application or renewal license application a report signed by the engineer...”

Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements

Staying compliant is not only about avoiding penalties, but also about ensuring the safety of every user and the long-term viability of your property.

Asset Implications

Parking structures, particularly in climates like St. Louis Park, are susceptible to many different types of deterioration.

Left uninspected, these deterioration mechanisms could pose risks to people and property  - examples include: falling concrete, tripping hazards, and even partial collapses.

Financial Implications

Additional action may be required, depending on the findings of the engineer’s inspection:

Per Section 8-400, Engineering Reports:

“An applicant for a multilevel parking facility license must provide with the license application or renewal license application a report signed by the engineer, which report shall provide the following:

(1) A description of the inspection methods, testing and results. 

(2) A description of the overall condition of the facility and any evidence of deterioration. If any deterioration is identified, the engineer shall identify and specify in the report the deterioration, recommended repairs, and the timeframe in which such repairs must be made.

(3) Certification of the structural integrity of the parking facility indicating whether the structure is capable of supporting the loads for which it is being used.”

Per Section 8-401, Conditions of License:

“(a) The engineer's recommendations as set forth in section 8-400 will be included as a condition of a vehicle parking facility license, and repairs must be corrected within the time specified by the engineer.

(b) The owner of a vehicle parking facility shall not permit vehicles to use such vehicle parking facility without a valid license for the facility.”

Section 8-402. Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of License:

If the engineer determines that the parking structure is incapable of supporting itself or the imposed load from vehicles as set forth in section 8-400(3), then the vehicle parking facility license will be suspended, revoked, or denied renewal until modifications have been made to the structure and the engineer submits a follow-up report indicating that all deficiencies have been corrected.

Other Nonstructural Requirements

Although this article focuses on inspection and reporting for the parking garage structure, note that additional insurance considerations are outlined in Section 8-398, and security considerations in Section 8-403 that are required to be met prior to issuance of a license.

Cities Near St. Louis Park

The codified ordinance only applies to parking garages in St. Louis Park proper. If your asset is not in St. Louis Park, it is not subject to the specific requirements outlined above.

If not located in St. Louis Park, determine if the jurisdiction in which your asset is located requires inspection. Multiple other municipalities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, including both twin cities, mandate parking garage inspection and reporting like St. Louis Park.

Next Steps

Whether required by law or not, preventative inspection and maintenance of parking structures is always a good idea.

As leaders in parking structure management and safety compliance, StructureCare is here to guide you through the complexities of the Inspection and Reporting Requirements for Parking Garages in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

We offer comprehensive inspection and reporting services to ensure your parking facilities meet all legal requirements and maintain the highest safety standards.

Nick Heim, PE 
Innovation Engineer, Ohio