Eagan, MN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Eagan limits which animals may be kept as residential pets. According to the City's Animal Rules & Ordinances, permitted pets are dogs, cats, ferrets, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, and caged household birds. The City further states that all other reptiles and exotic pets are prohibited from being kept in residential areas. This means species outside the listed household pets — including most reptiles and other exotic animals — are not allowed on standard residential lots in Eagan. Farm animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, and honey bees are handled under a separate rule that requires agricultural zoning and a minimum of five acres, so they are not a path to keeping exotics on a typical city lot. The Eagan Police Department's animal control officer enforces the City Code Chapter 10 animal provisions and conducts inspections of animal-keeping facilities. Minnesota also regulates certain dangerous and regulated animals at the state level, but Eagan's own published rule is the controlling residential restriction here. Residents who are unsure whether a particular species qualifies as a permitted household pet should contact the City before acquiring the animal, because the published list is specific and the catch-all prohibition on other reptiles and exotic pets is broad.