Contesting Citations

Overview

If you receive an administrative citation, the city code violation and/or the citation fine may be contested and be heard before an independent hearing officer that is not a city employee. To request a hearing, you must contact the City Clerk in writing within 10 calendar days of the date the citation was mailed or personally served, stating that the offender contests the alleged violation, the amount of the penalty or both, and pay a $200 non-refundable filing fee. Mail to: City of West St. Paul, Attn: City Clerk, 1616 Humboldt Ave., West St. Paul, MN 55118.

The City Clerk will notify you of the date, time, location of your hearing, and the name of the hearing officer. Allow at least one day to schedule the hearing. Other cases may be scheduled at the same time as your hearing. Please arrive on time to the hearings. The hearing officer may not hear your case if you arrive late.

The hearings will be held at the:

Office of Administrative Hearings
Administrative Law Division
600 Robert St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55101

Hearing date, time, and other information will be included in the notice of hearing packet.

Hearing Process

At the hearing, the Hearing Officer has the authority to do any of the following:

  • Make a finding that a violation has occurred,
  • Reduce, stay, or waive an administrative civil penalty or fine,
  • Require compliance with the city code within a specified time frame, or
  • Make a finding that no violation has occurred and dismiss the administrative citation.

After the hearing, you will receive a signed copy of order outlining the hearing officer’s decision. If the hearing officer orders an administrative penalty fee, it must be paid within 30 days of the hearing officer’s order.

If the administrative penalty fee is not paid, the city may assess the penalty against the owner’s property pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429. If the hearing officer finds that no violation occurred, the city may then proceed with criminal prosecution for the same act or conduct. If the hearing officer upholds the violation, you may be ordered to pay up to $1,000 toward the cost of the hearing. If you fail to appear at the hearing, the administrative citation shall be sustained.