Animal Ordinances in Saint Paul, MN (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Saint Paul, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Any hoofed animal, horses, goats, sheep, pigs and similar livestock, needs a city permit before it can be kept anywhere in Saint Paul. Legislative Code § 198.02(a) bars stabling, keeping or permitting a hoofed animal to remain on any lot or premises without a permit, with no minimum head count triggering the requirement.
Saint Paul Hoofed Animal Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 198.02(a) (Permits Required — Hoofed Animals)
(a)Hoofed animals. No person shall stable, keep or permit any hoofed animal to remain on any lot or premises within the city without a permit.
Dog Leash Laws
Saint Paul dogs must be effectively restrained, inside a fence or on a leash no longer than six feet, anywhere in public under Legislative Code Sec. 200.05, except in posted off-leash areas. Section 200.16 caps leash weight at four pounds and limits outdoor tethering to two-hour stretches with a two-hour rest between.
Saint Paul Dog Leash and Tether Rules
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code §§ 200.05, 200.16(b)
The license holder, owner or keeper of any dog shall be responsible for the effective restraint of such dog and shall not permit the dog to run at large. Any dog which is not effectively contained within a fenced area, or any dog which is on any unfenced area or lot abutting a street, alley, public park, school grounds or public place without being effectively restrained by chain or leash from ...
Breed Restrictions
Saint Paul has no dog-breed ban. Legislative Code Sec. 200.01 defines 'dangerous animal' and 'potentially dangerous animal' purely by conduct, unprovoked bites, attacks or aggressive history, and Sec. 200.11 and 200.12 let the animal services manager declare any dog dangerous based on that behavior, regardless of breed.
Saint Paul Dangerous Dog Declaration Standards
Significant RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 200.01 (definition of 'Dangerous animal')
Dangerous animal means an animal which has: (1)Without provocation caused substantial bodily harm to any person on public or private property; or(2)Without provocation engaged in any attack on any person under circumstances which would indicate danger to personal safety; or(3)Exhibited unusually aggressive behavior, such as an attack on another animal causing serious injury or death; or(4)Bitte...
Beekeeping
Saint Paul requires a permit before anyone keeps a beehive in the city. Legislative Code § 198.02(e) states flatly that no person shall keep or allow to be kept any hive or other facility for the housing of bees within the city without a permit, enforced by the environmental health officer in Safety and Inspections.
Saint Paul Beekeeping Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 198.02(e) (Permits Required — Bees)
(e)Bees. No person shall keep or allow to be kept any hive or other facility for the housing of bees within the city without a permit.
Exotic Pets
Saint Paul bans keeping wolves, coyotes, jackals and any dog-wolf or dog-coyote crossbreed, every skunk and raccoon, and 'regulated animals' like big cats, bears and primates obtained after January 1, 2005, under Legislative Code Sec. 198.03. Animal Services can seize a banned animal immediately, and possession is a misdemeanor punishable under Sec. 198.08.
Saint Paul Prohibited Exotic Animals Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 198.03(a)
(a)Prohibited animals. No person shall keep, maintain, sell or harbor within the City of Saint Paul any of the following animals:(1)Any animal or species prohibited by federal or Minnesota law.(2)Any exotic animal or species when kept in such numbers or in such a way as to constitute a likelihood of harm to the animals themselves, to human beings or to the property of human beings, or which con...
Wildlife Feeding
Saint Paul bans intentionally feeding deer anywhere in the city under Legislative Code Sec. 201.01. The ban covers grain, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, hay or any other edible material placed on or within five feet of the ground where deer could reasonably be expected to eat it, and violating it is a petty misdemeanor.
Saint Paul Deer Feeding Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 201.01
No person shall intentionally feed deer within the city. (1)Feeding defined. For purposes of this subdivision, feeding shall include the act of placing or permitting to be placed on the ground, or within five feet of the ground, any grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or any other edible materials, which may reasonably be expected to result in deer feeding, unless such items...
Pet Limits
Saint Paul lets the environmental health officer require a permit for animals kept 'in a manner or number that may result in unsanitary conditions,' even when no other section of the animal code already applies. Legislative Code § 198.02(d) targets hoarding-style situations before they become a documented nuisance.
Saint Paul Excess-Animal Nuisance Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 198.02(d) (Permits Required — Public Health and Safety)
(d)Public health and safety. To protect any person or neighboring use, or to protect the public health and safety, the environmental health officer may require permits for any animals being kept or maintained in a manner or number that may result in unsanitary conditions, unreasonable noise or odors, or annoyance, or the attraction of rodents or insects.
Cat Rules
Saint Paul runs a formal feral-cat framework under Legislative Code Chapter 202: a stray cat can be impounded and held five days, but a cat believed feral may instead go straight to a recognized feral-cat management program for trapping, sterilization and release, and every released feral cat must be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and marked.
Saint Paul Feral Cat Sterilization Rules
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code §§ 202.02(c), 202.04
(c)Notwithstanding the five day waiting period, a cat which is reasonably believed to be feral may be transferred at any time to a feral cat management program which has been recognized by St. Paul animal Control for the purpose of immediate identification, sterilization and release. ... No feral cat shall be released back into the community where it was impounded unless the animal has: (1)Been...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Saint Paul doesn't require spaying or neutering pets generally, but a dog declared 'dangerous' under Chapter 200 must be sterilized at the owner's expense within 30 days under Legislative Code Sec. 200.121(a)(9), or Animal Control seizes the dog and has it sterilized itself, still billing the owner.
Saint Paul Dangerous Dog Sterilization Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 200.121(a)(9)
(a)Requirements. If the court or animal control supervisor does not order the destruction of an animal that has been declared dangerous, the court or animal control supervisor shall, as an alternative, order any or all of the following, excepting for dogs, in which case all shall be applicable ... (9)A dog must be sterilized at the owner's expense. If the owner does not have the animal steriliz...
Microchipping
Saint Paul doesn't microchip pets generally, but once a dog is declared 'dangerous' the owner must have a veterinarian implant a microchip under Legislative Code Sec. 200.15, pay the implant and registration fee, and keep the identification on file with the Department of Safety and Inspections.
Saint Paul Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 200.15
The owner of a dangerous dog is required to have a microchip installed or injected on the animal. The microchip shall be installed in or injected under the skin of the animal by a licensed veterinarian and shall be designed so that, when scanned by an electronic reader, it is capable of providing the identification of the dog's owner. An appropriate fee shall be paid by the owner to the license...
Pet Store Rules
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.
Saint Paul Pet Shops Can't Sell Dogs, Cats
Heavy RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 347.05(c)
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 e...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Saint Paul zones veterinary clinics as enclosed-building uses: Sec. 65.536 requires soundproofing and odor control, bans outdoor kennels outright, and in traditional neighborhood and B2 business districts additionally forbids kenneling any animal that isn't currently under active medical treatment.
Saint Paul Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 65.536 (Veterinary Clinic)
An establishment for the routine examination, medical or surgical treatment and care of domestic household pets generally with overnight boarding facilities for pets in care but without kenneling of animals. Standards and conditions: All activity shall take place within completely enclosed buildings with soundproofing and odor control; outdoor kennels are prohibited. In traditional neighborho...
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