Minneapolis Animal Care & Control: Working with residents to create safe and healthy communities for people and animals.

Contact Us

Animal Care and Control
212 17th Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Phone: dial 311
or (612) 673-3000
Fax: (612) 673-6255

Animal Permits

Several types of permits are required by Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) including:

  • Multiple Animal. Permit required to have more than three (3) dogs, cats, rabbits or ferrets, in any combination, in Minneapolis.
  • Small Animal. Permit required to keep pigeons, ducks, chickens, turkeys in Minneapolis.
  • Honeybee. Permit required for keeping honeybees in Minneapolis.
  • Special Event with Animals. Permit required for events in Minneapolis involving any hoofed animal or an animal that is wild by nature.

Permitting Process and Requirements

For Small Animal and Multiple Animal Permits you must:

  • Define the number and type of each animal to be kept at the property.
  • Obtain written consent of 80 percent of the neighbors within 100 feet of the property where the animals will be kept. MACC will provide the consent form and list of addresses that are required for consent.
  • Allow MACC to inspect the animals and the premises where animals will be kept.
  • Meet zoning requirements where applicable.
  • Renew permit annually. Permit fee of $30.00 for first year and $30.00 for each year after.

For Honeybee Permits you must:

  • Define the location and number of hives, colonies and/or facilities for the housing of honeybees.
  • Obtain written consent of at least eighty (80) percent of the neighbors within one hundred (100) feet of the property where the honeybees will be kept and one hundred (100) percent of the neighbor’s immediately adjacent to the property. MACC will provide the consent form and list of addresses that are required for consent.
  • Complete an educational requirement. Applicants must provide a certificate of completion of a honeybee keeping courses from one of the following organizations: University of Minnesota, Century College, Three Rivers Park District. (Contact MACC to request consideration for a comparable course.)
  • Allow MACC to inspect the premises where the honeybees will be kept.
  • Meet zoning requirements where applicable.
  • Renew permit annually. Permit fee of $100.00 for first year and $50.00 for each year after.

Note: Applications for multiple animal, small animal and honeybee permits are not available online. To receive a permit application or for more information, please call 311.

Animal Event Permit

Special event permits are required for events held in Minneapolis involving any hoofed animal or an animal that is wild by nature. Examples of such events include but are not limited to: circuses, petting zoos, pony rides, community events and weddings. There are three classes of permits – Class A (private event), Class B (public event) and Class C (large animal public event). Proof of insurance and a completed questionnaire must be submitted with the application. You may start the process by downloading the Application and Questionnaire for Animal Permit (PDF). For more information, please call 311.

Failure to obtain a permit or failure to comply with permit requirements could result in fines up to $2,000.