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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents May 2017 • Insulation (building permit) • Swimming pools that are in-ground (building permit and zoning permit for fencing) and those that are above ground which exceed 1,000 gallons or are over 18 inches deep (building permit) Has the home improvement bug bit- ten you this year? Great! Remem- ber, though, that some of those projects require a permit from the City, particularly those with minimum stan- dards set for both safety and performance. These projects must be inspected when completed to make sure that the minimum standards are met. The following are some of the projects that would not require a permit: • Replacing a faucet, sink, or toilet • Accessory buildings/sheds less than 120 square feet in floor area • Retaining walls less than four feet in height • Painting, flooring, cabinets, counter- tops, or similar work • Swings and/or playground equipment • Swimming pools that are above ground and do not exceed 1,000 gal- lons in capacity or 18 inches in depth Projects that do require a permit are: • Decks less than 30 inches above grade and not attached to the home (zoning permit) • Decks either higher than 30 inches above grade or attached to the home (building permit) • Gas or wood fireplace (mechanical permit) • Fences (zoning permit) • Replacement water heaters, furnaces, and AC (mechanical permit) • Replacing windows, siding and roof- ing (building permit) • Accessory buildings/sheds larger than 120 square feet (zoning permit) and those over 200 square feet (build- ing permit) • Driveways, new or expanded (zoning permit) • Basement and interior remodels that involve demolishing, moving or building walls (building permit) This time of year, when more people are thinking about household projects, the City sees an uptick in businesses that solicit door-to-door. In Arden Hills, door- to-door solicitors are required to obtain a permit. If a sales person comes to your door, ask to see the permit. You may tell non-permitted vendors that they need to stop soliciting and obtain a permit. The City would also appreciate it if you call the non-emergency sheriff’s number at 651-767-0640. That nuisance buckthorn continues to be a problem in our yards and neighbor- hoods. The shrub is a threat to native plants in forests, wetlands, and prairies as well as to wildlife habitats. Although it is no lon- ger sold in Minnesota, it is a very invasive species and well established. Both physical and chemical methods can be used to remove buckthorn, which is very persistent. A combination of methods may prove most effective. For detailed instructions and specific chemicals, see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, http://www.dnr.state. mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/ buckthorn/control.html. Once you have removed the buckthorn, the City of Arden Hills will help out with disposal. Your trees or branches should be organized in piles of no more than ten feet in length and placed at the curb with the cut side toward the street. Pick-up is available April through September. Resi- dents must complete a Buckthorn Pickup Request form, which can be found on the City’s website under Home\Departments\ Public Works\Forestry\Buckthorn, or you can search for the keyword Buckthorn. For questions or trouble accessing the site, please call City Hall at 651-792-7800. Another disposal option is the Ramsey County compost site, located at 3530 Hudson Avenue, Arden Hills. County residents can dispose of buckthorn at this site at no cost. For days and hours, visit https://www. ramseycounty.us/yard- waste . Buckthorn has invaded all corners of our state and has no natural enemies, so it is up to us to remove it and protect our environment from its harmful effects. Summer is coming! Here are some things to consider Home improvement projects on your agenda? Got buckthorn? Here’s some information About summer and those door-to-door solicitors Pictured at right: common buckthorn, top; glossy buckthorn, bottom