Saint Paul, MN Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sale ban
- Pet shops can't sell/barter/auction dogs or cats (§347.05(c))
- Allowed exception
- Hosting shelters/rescues to showcase adoptable pets (§347.05(c))
- Minimum age
- Showcased animals must be 8+ weeks old (§347.05(c))
- Exotic-animal ban
- No skunks; no turtles under 4 inches (§347.05(b))
- Records
- Purchase/sale logs kept 3 years (§347.05(f))
- License required
- For any pet shop citywide (§347.01)
Summary
Saint Paul pet shops can't sell, barter, auction or otherwise transfer dogs or cats at all under City Code § 347.05(c). They may only host animal shelters and rescue groups showcasing adoptable dogs and cats at least eight weeks old, effectively turning every licensed pet shop into an adoption venue rather than a retail source for those two species.
No pet shop shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats or dogs. Nothing in this section prohibits pet shops from collaborating with animal shelters, animal rescue organizations, and animal control authorities to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs and cats inside pet shops. Such animals may not be younger than eight (8) weeks old.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
02 defines who's allowed to showcase animals inside one: an 'animal rescue organization' or 'animal shelter' must hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and be devoted to rescuing, caring for, and placing stray, abandoned or surrendered animals without breeding them, while an 'animal control authority' is any government entity responsible for animal control. 05(c) is absolute for cats and dogs, no sale, delivery, barter, auction, giveaway or transfer, but it carves out space for shelters, rescues and control authorities to showcase adoptable animals at least eight weeks old on the premises.
05(b) separately bars any pet shop from keeping a skunk, wild-caught or domestically raised, and from keeping or selling red-eared turtles with a shell under four inches. 05(h). 05(e) after public notice and a hearing.
Violations & Fines
Selling, bartering or otherwise transferring a dog or cat in violation of § 347.05(c) is grounds for adverse action against the pet shop's license under the rules adopted pursuant to § 347.05(e). Keeping a banned skunk or an undersized red-eared turtle breaches § 347.05(b), and the department of safety and inspections can enter and inspect the shop under § 347.05(h) at any time to confirm compliance, including verifying that only adoption showcasing, not sales, of dogs and cats is occurring on-site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Saint Paul pet store still sell puppies or kittens?
How can a pet store legally have adoptable dogs and cats on-site?
What other animals are Saint Paul pet shops barred from keeping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
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