Duluth, MN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Duluth Legislative Code § 6-39
- Default combined limit
- 5 animals over 4 months old
- Dog-specific limit
- 3 dogs without a license
- Exception license
- Issued by city clerk's office
- License term
- Calendar year, expires Dec 31
- Appeal path
- Police lieutenant, then city council (15 days)
Summary
Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-39 caps most households at five combined dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits or other domesticated animals over four months old, and specifically caps dogs at three, unless the owner obtains a maximum pet exception license from the city clerk's office.
Unless otherwise specified in this chapter no more than any combination of five, dogs, cast, ferrets, rabbits or other domesticated animal of over the age of four months shall be kept, harbored or maintained within any individual dwelling unit or on any lot or other parcel of property in the city without a maximum pet exception license. ... No more than three dogs over the age of four months may be kept, harbored, or maintained within in individual dwelling unit or on any lot or other parcel of property in the city without a maximum pet license.
Full Breakdown
Section 6-39(a) sets the default combined cap of five animals over four months old per dwelling unit or parcel, unless the owner holds a maximum pet exception license issued by the city clerk's office; the license can carry restrictions the animal control authority deems necessary to protect against unsanitary conditions, noise, odor or public health and safety risks, and can be modified or revoked, effective ten days after the city mails written notice by certified mail. Subsection (b) adds a dog-specific cap of three dogs over four months old without a license.
Subsection (c) makes these licenses annual, running the calendar year and expiring December 31, with fees set from time to time by city council resolution. Subsection (d) subjects every maximum pet license to inspection at the animal control authority's discretion. If an owner is denied a license or has one revoked, Section 6-39(e) allows an appeal to the administrative lieutenant of the Duluth Police Department, and Section 6-39(f) allows a further appeal to the city council by filing written notice with the city clerk within 15 days of the administrative lieutenant's decision.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more animals than Section 6-39 allows without an exception license is unlawful and, because Chapter 6 lists no specific fine for this section, falls under the citywide general penalty in Duluth Legislative Code Section 1-7: a fine of up to $1,000, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The city's primary enforcement tool is revocation of the exception license itself, effective ten days after certified-mail notice, subject to the two-step appeal process in Section 6-39(e) and (f).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I legally keep in Duluth?
How do I get permission to keep more pets than the limit?
What happens if the city revokes my pet exception license?
Are all maximum pet licenses subject to inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Duluth
Compare Duluth to another location·View the Minnesota animal ordinances overview
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