(A) Keeping of animals. The keeping of animals within the city is subject to the provisions of this chapter and applicable state and federal statutes, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those addressing prevention of cruelty to animals, animal health, stray animals, companion animals, service animals and dangerous animals.
(B) Animals within the city. Except as otherwise provided elsewhere in the code, no person shall keep or harbor any animal other than a household pet or service animal within the city.
(C) Limitation on number.
(1) Purpose. The owning, harboring and keeping on any premise of a large number of pet animals within the city adversely affects the welfare of the entire city due to various noise, odor, health and safety problems resulting from the keeping of a large number of pet animals, which constitute a public nuisance.
(2) No person shall keep in any one dwelling unit, lot, or premise or portion thereof more than three service animals or three of each of the following household pets: dogs, ferrets, or cats over the age of four months of age, but not to exceed a combined total of six said animals. This provision shall not apply to veterinary clinics or hospitals, licensed kennels or catteries, pet stores, animal shelters, pet care facilities, or other similar uses permitted by the code.
(D) Keeping of certain animals prohibited.
(1) Prohibited animals. No person shall keep, maintain or harbor within the city any of the following animals:
(a) Any animal or species prohibited by Minnesota or federal law.
(b) Farm poultry or farm animal, except in the following cases:
1. Farm poultry or farm animals may be kept on property zoned for agricultural uses.
2. Horses may be kept on property zoned R-1 Single Family Residential (minimum lot size of 40,000 sq. ft.).
(c) Any animal or species not defined as a HOUSEHOLD PET. Examples of prohibited animals include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. All skunks, whether captured in the wild, domestically raised, descented or not descented, vaccinated against rabies or not vaccinated against rabies.
2. All large cats of the family Felidae, such as lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars and ocelots, except commonly accepted domesticated house cats.
3. All members of the family Canidae, such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes and jackals, except domesticated dogs.
4. All crossbreeds, such as crossbreeds between dogs and coyotes or dogs and wolves, but does not include crossbreeds between domesticated animals.
5. All poisonous snakes, such as rattlesnakes, coral snakes, water moccasins, cobras or copperheads.
6. All raccoons.
7. All piranhas, northern snakeheads, and similar aggressive carnivorous fish.
8. All apes and monkeys.
(2) Selling prohibited. No person shall offer for sale, within the city limits, any animal identified in divisions (D)(1)(a) and (c) of this section.
(3) Exceptions; permit required.
(a) Any persons desiring to keep animals prohibited under division (D)(1) of this section for entertainment, exhibition, show or promotional purposes only may obtain a permit from the City Council. Such a permit shall be issued for a period not to exceed 30 days and shall specify further conditions under which such animals shall be kept. A public zoo or other institution engaged in a permanent display of animals may be issued a permanent permit, provided applicable zoning requirements are met. The Minnesota Zoological Gardens is exempt from this requirement.
(b) Any accredited education or research institution or veterinary hospital are exempt from the permit requirement, provided protective devices adequate to prevent such animals from escaping or injuring the public are provided.
(E) Removal of animal waste required. The owner or keeper of any animal shall be responsible for the immediate removal and proper disposal of any feces deposited by such animal on any property, public or private, not owned or exclusively occupied by the owner or keeper. The owner or keeper of any animal shall also be responsible for the periodic removal and proper disposal of feces deposited by such animal on property owned or exclusively occupied by such owner or keeper so as to prevent the creation of a public nuisance within the meaning of § 94.15.
(Ord. 961, passed 2-27-14)