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Title: Kennel License
Alternate Title:
Description:

A kennel is a facility that accepts impounded, stray, abandoned, or owner-surrendered cats and dogs. This includes humane societies, rescue organizations and impound facilities. Any person who operates a kennel where dogs or cats are kept, congregated or confined, must be licensed with the Board of Animal Health if the dogs or cats were obtained from municipalities, pounds, auctions, or by advertising for unwanted dogs or cats, or dogs or cats strayed, abandoned, or stolen.

This requirement does not apply to (1) a pound owned and operated by any political subdivision of the state, (2) a person’s home where dogs or cats are kept as pets, or (3) a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state of Minnesota who keeps, congregates, or confines dogs or cats in the normal pursuit of the practice of veterinary medicine.

Licensing requirements under this statute do not apply to training and boarding facilities, animal day care facilities, groomers, or your own personal pets. Please contact your city and county to ensure compliance with local ordinances.

Subject: Animals
Cats, Dogs
Kennels
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:14:07 PM
Modification Date: 4/9/2025 12:57:42 PM

Agency Name: Animal Health (BAH), Minnesota Board of
Agency URL: https://www.bah.state.mn.us
Agency Description: The mission of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) is to protect the health of the state’s domestic animals through education and cooperation with veterinarians, producers, owners and communities. is to protect the health of the state’s domestic animals through education and cooperation with veterinarians, producers, owners and communities.
Agency Phone: 651-296-2942
Agency Fax: 651-296-7417
Agency URL: https://www.bah.state.mn.us

Agency Address:
625 Robert Street North

St. Paul
MN
55155

Division Name: Email
Division URL:
Division Description:
Division Phone: Division Fax: Division URL:

Unit Name: Kennel License
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: 651-201-6824
Unit Fax: Contact person(s): Unit URL:

Audience: Hold Application URL: https://www.bah.state.mn.us/application-for-license-kennel
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:

Review Kennels

A kennel is a facility that accepts impounded, stray, abandoned, or owner-surrendered cats and dogs. This includes humane societies, rescue organizations and impound facilities.

Any person who operates a kennel where dogs or cats are kept, congregated, or confined, must be licensed with the Board of Animal Health if the dogs or cats were obtained from municipalities, pounds, auctions, or by advertising for unwanted dogs or cats, or dogs or cats strayed, abandoned, or stolen (Minn. Stats. § 347.34).

To obtain a kennel license, the owner must submit a license application to the Board along with $15 to cover the annual license fee. The kennel must then be inspected by the Board to verify compliance with the requirements specified in Minn. Stats. 347.31-.40 and Minn. Rules 1721.0520.

The Board does not license the following:

A person’s home where dogs or cats are kept as pets.
Pounds owned and operated by any political subdivision of the state.
Veterinary clinics.
Foster-based only rescue organizations.
Training and boarding facilities.
Doggy daycare facilities.
Groomers.

However, the preceding list may require licensing by local ordinances. Please check with township, city or county officials for any rules they may have regarding licensing in your location.

Additional resources:

Dog and Cat Import Requirements

Inspection Guidelines

Inspection Report

Kennel Handbook

Kennel Laws and Rules

Veterinary Protocol for Kennels

Rules: 1721.0520

Statutes: 347.31 - .40

Forms: Application for License: Kennel
Fees:

Kennel Fees

$15 per year.

Pay online

Period of Issuance: