St. Paul businesses holding Class N licenses may pay their 2026 renewal fees as late as Dec. 31 without incurring late penalties under a temporary extension approved by the City Council.
The change allows eligible businesses to pay up to six months after their normal due date. The full license fee remains due; the city is extending the payment timeline and waiving late fees rather than reducing the amount owed.
Class N licenses cover businesses whose operations can affect surrounding neighborhoods, including restaurants, bars, breweries, event venues, auto shops and similar establishments. Many of those businesses are in the hospitality and nightlife industries.
City officials said the extension responds to feedback from small businesses that reported financial strain and administrative disruptions. Public-facing businesses lost customers, reduced hours or temporarily closed during Operation Metro Surge, according to the city. The July 2025 cyberattack on municipal systems also delayed some renewal notices.
Mayor Kaohly Her said business owners asked the city for flexibility as they recovered from an unusually difficult year. Council President Rebecca Noecker said the change provides breathing room while preserving the city’s expected licensing revenue.
The extension took effect June 26 and applies to payments made by the end of 2026. Businesses should still complete their renewals and pay the required fee through the city’s PAULIE online licensing system.
License holders with questions can contact the Department of Safety and Inspections at [email protected]. Online renewals and additional information are available at stpaul.gov/paulie.
The temporary relief applies only to the 2026 renewal cycle.
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