Blaine, MN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Kennel threshold
- 4+ animals of one type, over 4 months
- License required
- Kennel license plus zoning CUP
- License expiration
- April 30 annually
- Renewal grace period
- Before June 1 without penalty
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Blaine has no flat cap on household pets, but City Code § 14-1 defines keeping four or more animals of one type over four months old, for private enjoyment or commercial gain, as a 'kennel.' Once you hit that fourth same-species pet, § 14-187 requires a kennel license and a conditional use permit.
Kennel, commercial, means any structure or premises on which four or more animals, domestic pets, of one type, over four months of age are kept, owned, boarded, groomed, sheltered, protected, bred, or offered for sale or any other merchandising. Every kennel shall be enclosed or fenced in such manner as to prevent the running at large or escape of dogs confined therein. Kennel, private, means any structure or premises on which four or more animals, domestic pets, of one type, over four months of age are kept for private enjoyment and not for monetary gain. Every kennel shall be enclosed or fenced in such manner as to prevent the running at large or escape of dogs confined therein. ... It is unlawful for any person to own or operate any dog kennel unless a license and conditional use permit as per the city zoning ordinance is secured therefor.
Full Breakdown
The Blaine Code of Ordinances does not set a numeric household pet limit directly, but its animal-code definitions in § 14-1 create a de facto ceiling. 'Kennel, private' is any structure or premises where four or more domestic pets of one type, over four months of age, are kept for private enjoyment and not for monetary gain; 'Kennel, commercial' uses the identical four-or-more threshold for animals kept, bred, boarded, or offered for sale. Both kennel types must be enclosed or fenced to prevent the animals from running at large or escaping.
Once a household crosses that four-animal-of-one-type line, § 14-187 makes it unlawful to own or operate the kennel without securing both a license and a conditional use permit under the city's zoning ordinance; all licensed kennels are subject to annual review and inspection, with the license fee set by city council action and licenses expiring April 30 each year unless renewed by June 1. Section 14-188 additionally requires every kennel to be operated in a clean, healthful, sanitary, safe, and humane condition, and a kennel that becomes a public nuisance can have its license revoked.
Because animal control enforcement in Blaine runs through the police department's animal control authority, a resident who exceeds three pets of a single species without applying for the kennel license and CUP is operating an unlicensed kennel under the Code, not simply keeping 'extra pets.'
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed private or commercial kennel is a misdemeanor under § 14-30, with each day the violation continues counting as a separate offense. A kennel found unsanitary or a public nuisance under § 14-188 can lose its license outright, and the city council's determination on the kennel's condition is treated as presumptive proof of the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I have in Blaine without a permit?
Do I need a permit for four cats in Blaine?
What happens if I run an unlicensed kennel in Blaine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Blaine
Compare Blaine to another location·View the Minnesota animal ordinances overview
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