The St. Paul City Council has made it easier to open overnight shelters downtown.

Since 2017, the city and Ramsey County have teamed up to allow an overnight shelter during the winter months at 160 E. Kellogg Blvd., a site within the central business district, which is otherwise known on zoning maps as the B4 district.

In order to open the shelter, the council approved an interim use permit, or temporary permit, which was extended in May for the summer months, as well.

City officials have acknowledged that repeatedly seeking special permission to house the homeless is a bit of a clunky process.

Both overnight shelters and emergency housing facilities — where homeless individuals live for up to 30 days — are permitted on an ongoing basis in the city’s neighboring “B5 Central Business-Service District,” which comprises the rest of downtown, provided they have a conditional use permit. Only emergency housing was previously permitted in the B4 area.

On Wednesday, the City Council voted 5-0 to approve allowing overnight shelters in the B4 district with a conditional use permit, as well.

Among the conditions, overnight shelters must be a minimum 600 feet from certain other congregate living facilities, including other overnight shelters and emergency housing facilities.