Animal Ordinances in Duluth, MN (2026)
15 verified animal ordinances for Duluth, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Duluth, keeping backyard chickens requires an annual city clerk license outside the Rural-Conservation and Residential-Rural 1 zones, and Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-79.1 caps every licensed household at seven chickens, bans roosters, and requires a secure, insulated, ventilated coop kept at least 25 feet from a neighboring dwelling.
Duluth Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-79.1(a)(2), (3), (13)
(a) Each person holding a license to keep chickens within the city of Duluth shall comply with the following: ... (2) No person shall keep more than seven chickens; (3) No person shall keep a rooster; ... (13) No roofed structure or fenced yard enclosure shall be located closer than 25 feet to any residential dwelling on the adjacent lots.
Dog Leash Laws
Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-36 bars any animal, including dogs, from running at large within the city. An animal off its owner's property must be under physical control on a leash no longer than six feet, and any leash-extending device must be retracted to six feet or less when approaching within ten feet of other people or animals.
Duluth Leash and At-Large Law for Dogs
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-36
No person shall suffer or permit any animal owned or controlled by that person to run at large within the city. Except as authorized in this Article, an animal shall be considered to be at large if: (a) The animal departs from the private property of the owner or other person caring for that animal and is not under physical control of the owner, a member of the immediate family or other respons...
Breed Restrictions
Duluth does not regulate dogs by breed; instead, Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-93 lets the animal control authority impose individualized restrictions on any dog it has declared potentially dangerous or dangerous, and outside its owner's dwelling a potentially dangerous dog must be leashed at six feet or less, or fenced, under direct control of an adult at least 18.
Duluth Dangerous Dog Restriction Rules
Significant RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-93(a)-(b)
(a) Except as provided in Minnesota Statutes Section 347.51, Subd. 8, the animal control authority may place on owners of potentially dangerous or dangerous dogs any restrictions that the animal control authority deems necessary to ensure public safety; (b) When outside its owner=s dwelling, a potentially dangerous dog must be kept on a leash not exceeding six feet in length and must be under d...
Beekeeping
In the City of Duluth, keeping honeybees needs an annual city clerk license outside the Rural-Conservation and Residential-Rural 1 zones, and Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-80.1 caps every lot at five hives, limits each hive to 20 cubic feet, and requires setbacks from property lines, sidewalks and neighboring buildings plus a flyway barrier.
Duluth Backyard Beekeeping Hive Rules
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-80.1(a)(1), (4), (6)
(a) Each person holding a license to keep honeybees within the city of Duluth shall comply with the following: (1) No more than five hives may be located on a lot; ... (4) No ground hive shall be located closer than five feet from any property line; ... (6) A flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall shield any part of a property line that is within 30 feet of a ground hive.
Exotic Pets
Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-73 bans owning, possessing or keeping any nondomesticated animal as a pet within the city, and bars offering one for sale unless federal or state law authorizes it. Limited exceptions exist under Section 6-74 for zoning-compliant traveling circuses, permanent zoos, veterinary hospitals and licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
Duluth Ban on Nondomesticated Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-73
(a) No person shall own, possess or have custody on thier premises any nondomesticated animal for display, training or exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee, except as permitted under Chapter 50 of the Duluth City Code; (b) No person shall keep or permit to be kept any nondomesticated animal as a pet, except as permitted under Chapter 50 of the Duluth City Code; (c) No person s...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of Duluth, feeding wild deer is banned everywhere, on public land and on your own property, under Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-78. Feeding pigeons is banned in every part of the city except land zoned suburban and designated park feeding areas, with enforcement by any authorized city employee or peace officer and a minimum fine set under Section 31-8.
Duluth Ban on Feeding Deer and Pigeons
Heavy RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-78(a), (c)
(a) Feeding of pigeons or deer. Except for operation of the Duluth zoo and its programs, feeding a wild deer on publicly-owned or occupied, or publicly-controlled, land is prohibited. Feeding of a wild deer or allowing one or more of them to be fed on ones privately-owned or occupied property is prohibited within the city. No person shall feed a nondomesticated pigeon, nor place feed in a place...
Pet Limits
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.
Duluth Limit on Number of Pets
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-39
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 ma...
Cat Rules
In the City of Duluth, every cat over eight weeks of age must be licensed under Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-11, the same requirement applied to dogs. Owners pay an annual or lifetime fee set by city council resolution, and an unlicensed cat impounded by animal control cannot be released until the license is purchased.
Duluth Cat Licensing Requirement
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-11
No person within the city shall own or possess any dog or cat over eight weeks of age without obtaining a license therefor and having complied with the provisions set forth in this Article.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
In the City of Duluth, dogs and cats adopted from the city animal shelter or a nonprofit rescue must be spayed or neutered before the new owner takes possession, under Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-5. The city's licensing rules also push owners toward alteration: dogs and cats over one year old must be altered to receive an annual compliant license.
Duluth Spay/Neuter Rule for Shelter Pets
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-5
All dogs and cats placed for adoption by the city animal shelter or other non-profit organizations such as: animal humane societies, animal placement agencies or animal rescue groups, must be spayed or neutered prior to the adopting party taking possession of the animal. In addition, every adopted animal must be examined by a licensed veterinarian and vaccinated against rabies.
Microchipping
Duluth does not require microchipping for pets generally, but Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-13(f) requires proof of microchip identification, along with proof of public liability insurance of at least $300,000, whenever an owner licenses a dog that has been officially designated dangerous under Article IX or Minnesota Statutes Section 347.50.
Duluth Microchip Rule for Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-13(f)
When an owner is seeking to license a dog that has been designated as dangerous pursuant to Article IX, or Minnesota statutes section 347.50, or successor statute, the application shall require proof of public liability insurance in the minimum of $300,000 and proof of microchip identification
Pet Store Rules
In the City of Duluth, a pet shop may sell animals only under an annual license from Duluth Legislative Code Sections 6-82 and 6-83, backed by a $3,000 corporate surety bond and a commercial general liability policy of $300,000 per bodily injury claim and $50,000 for property damage, and Section 6-89 bans misrepresenting an animal's breed or age to induce a sale.
Duluth Pet Shop Licensing and Bond Rules
Significant RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code §§ 6-82(d), 6-83, 6-89(a)
(d) A pet shop business; ... In addition, any license application or renewal thereof, shall be accompanied by a corporate surety bond to the city of Duluth in the amount of $3,000, which shall be maintained in that amount throughout the license period to ensure payment of veterinary or other care for animals ordered by the animal control officer and to ensure the licensee's compliance with all ...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Duluth, anyone running a commercial grooming shop or mobile grooming shop must hold an annual license under Duluth Legislative Code Sections 6-82 through 6-84, pay a council-set license fee, and submit to inspection by the animal control authority before the license issues and at the authority's discretion afterward.
Duluth Pet Grooming Shop Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code §§ 6-82(e)-(f), 6-84
Persons operating or maintaining pet shops, grooming shops, mobile grooming shops, breeding or boarding kennels, when such facilities are maintained under professional supervision, shall, in addition to other licenses required by this Section, pay a license fee. ... (e) A commercial grooming shop business; (f) A commercial mobile grooming shop business ... Prior to the issuance of any first tim...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Duluth, where a veterinarian or animal hospital can operate depends on zone district: large-animal practices are confined to the R-C and RR-1 districts with a 100-foot setback, while small-animal clinics are limited to R-2, R-P, MU-N and MU-C districts and must keep kennel runs and exam areas fully enclosed inside a soundproof building.
Duluth Zoning Rules for Veterinary Clinics and Kennels
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 50-20.3.U.1-2
U. Veterinarian or animal hospital, and kennel 1. In the R-C and RR-1 districts, a veterinarian or animal hospital is permitted provided that service is limited to large livestock/large animal care and any building or enclosure so used shall be located not less than 100 feet from any lot line; 2. In the R-2, R-P, MU-N and MU-C districts, a veterinarian or animal hospital is permitted provided t...
Bird Protection
Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-55 bars anyone, or their animal, from injuring or destroying a bird's nest, refuge or shelter on public or private property in the city, or from taking eggs or newly hatched birds from one. Section 6-56 separately makes it unlawful to hunt, kill or wound any wild bird or game animal in the city except under a Minnesota DNR permit.
Duluth Bird Nest and Wildlife Protection Rule
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code §§ 6-55, 6-56
No person shall, nor shall the person allow their animal to, injure or destroy any nest, refuge or shelter of any animal, creature, bird or fowl in any public property (including, but not limited to, any public park or public zoological garden) or upon any private property of another within the city or disturb, take or carry away from any such nest, refuge or shelter any egg, newly-hatched bird...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
In the City of Duluth, Chapter 6's ban on keeping nondomesticated animals as pets does not reach genuine wildlife rehabilitation. Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-74(d) exempts anyone housing wild animals as part of a bona fide institutional program to return them to the wild, so long as the premises meets every zoning requirement that applies to that use.
Duluth Wildlife Rehabilitator Exemption Rules
Light RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 6-74(d)
(d) Wildlife rehabilitators. Persons keeping nondomesticated animals as part of a bona fide institutional program to return such animals to the wild are exempt from Section 6-73 of this Article, provided the location of the premises complies with all zoning requirements.
Looking for St. Louis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Duluth city rules.
Animal Ordinances in St. Louis County →