Saint Paul does not mandate spay or neuter but uses Chapter 198's tiered license fee, charging substantially less for sterilized dogs and cats and more for intact animals.
Saint Paul Legislative Code Ch. 198 sets a discounted annual license fee for spayed or neutered dogs and cats, while intact animals pay a significantly higher rate. The fee differential is intended to reduce shelter intake at Ramsey County's contracted facility and align with Minnesota's voluntary approach to companion-animal sterilization. Owners must submit a veterinarian's certificate of sterilization to qualify for the lower fee. Animals adopted from Ramsey County Animal Services or partnered rescues are typically sterilized before release. Saint Paul's policy is voluntary; no statewide mandatory spay-neuter law exists under Minn. Stat. Ch. 347.
Claiming the sterilized rate without veterinary documentation, or failing to license an intact animal under the higher fee tier, can lead to license denial and citations under Ch. 198.
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See how Saint Paul's mandatory spay/neuter rules stack up against other locations.
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