Maple Grove, MN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 6-30(a)(1) states plainly that the keeping or maintaining of any wild/exotic animal is prohibited in all areas of the city. The chapter's definitions section (Sec. 6-1) defines a wild/exotic animal as any nonhuman species of the animal kingdom, including those born or raised in captivity, except for a specific exempt list. The exemptions are: domestic dogs (excluding wolf, coyote, or jackal hybrids) and domestic cats (excluding ocelot or margay hybrids) properly vaccinated against rabies; caged rodents such as hamsters, mice, gerbils, white rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, or hedgehogs; rabbits; captive-bred common cage birds; small nonvenomous snakes; nonpoisonous lizards, iguanas, chameleons, salamanders and turtles; fish; and domestically raised ferrets. Anything outside that list - venomous snakes, large constrictors over six feet, big cats, primates, and similar animals - is a prohibited wild/exotic animal regardless of zoning. Even the exempt species carry caps under Sec. 6-30(d): for example, small nonvenomous snakes are capped at six and may not exceed six feet in length, nonpoisonous lizards and turtles at six, and ferrets at two (vaccinated yearly). The state also separately regulates dangerous exotic animals and certain species, so owners should check Minnesota law as well.