Minneapolis and St. Paul both require dogs to be licensed with the city, and a current rabies vaccination is part of getting the license. A new puppy is usually too young for its rabies shot when it comes home, so the usual order is first vet visit, rabies vaccine at the age your vet recommends, then the license. Minnesota has no statewide dog license, so each suburb sets its own rules. Fees, age limits and deadlines change, so always confirm the current details with your city before you apply.
A quick note on accuracy. We are a Chihuahua breeder, not a city office. City rules, fees and deadlines are updated from time to time, and we describe them here in general terms on purpose. The city's own website or a phone call to its animal services office is the final word.
What a Dog License Does in the Twin Cities
A license connects a dog to an owner, so a lost dog wearing its tag can be traced quickly. It also shows that the dog is vaccinated against rabies, which protects people and other animals. And license fees help fund city animal care and control, including the shelter where a lost dog is held until its family is found. For a Chihuahua, which can squeeze under a gate or out of a door left open for a moment, that small tag matters more than it does for most breeds.
Minneapolis Dog License Rules in General
Minneapolis requires dogs kept in the city to be licensed. The application asks for proof of a current rabies vaccination from your vet, and the license must be renewed on the schedule the city sets. The fee has generally been lower for dogs that are spayed or neutered. Minneapolis Animal Care and Control handles licensing and lost dogs, and in recent years the city has offered ways to apply online, by mail or in person.
Have these ready before you start:
- The rabies vaccination certificate from your vet
- A spay or neuter certificate, if the dog has been altered
- Your name, address and phone number
- The dog's description: breed, color, sex, age and name
- The microchip number, which is on the paperwork we send home
Many cities, Minneapolis included, also set a limit on how many dogs a household can keep without an extra permit. If you already have dogs at home, check that rule before adding a puppy.
St. Paul Dog License Rules in General
St. Paul also requires dogs to be licensed with the city, again with proof of rabies vaccination. The fee has typically been lower for a spayed or neutered dog, and the license must stay current. St. Paul's animal services office handles licensing, and the city website lists today's fees, the age by which a dog must be licensed and the ways to apply. Families on the east side of the metro can read more on our page for Chihuahua puppies in St. Paul.
Minneapolis and St. Paul Side by Side
| Question | Minneapolis | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| License required | Yes | Yes |
| Rabies vaccination needed | Yes | Yes |
| Lower fee if spayed or neutered | Generally, yes | Generally, yes |
| Renewal needed | Yes, on the city's schedule | Yes, on the city's schedule |
| Who to ask | Minneapolis Animal Care and Control | St. Paul animal services |
We have deliberately left fee amounts and deadlines out of this table. They change, and a wrong number on a breeder's website helps nobody.
Suburbs: Bloomington, Edina, Maple Grove, Woodbury and the Rest
Minnesota has no state dog license, so every suburb decides for itself. Many Twin Cities suburbs require a license and a rabies vaccination. Some do not license dogs at all but still have rules about rabies, leashes, barking and the number of pets per home. The quickest route is to search your city's name with "dog license", or call city hall during your puppy's first weeks. It takes a few minutes and saves a citation later. Renters should also read the lease: many Twin Cities apartment buildings have their own pet registration, weight limits and fees, separate from the city.
The Order We Suggest for a New Puppy
- First vet visit within a few days of coming home. Bring the vet check, vaccine and deworming records we send with every puppy.
- Finish the puppy vaccine series on your vet's schedule.
- Rabies vaccine at the age your vet recommends. Keep the certificate somewhere safe.
- City license, using that rabies certificate. Put the tag on a light collar.
- Register the microchip in your name. Our puppies go home microchipped, but the chip only helps if the registry has your current phone number.
- Spay or neuter when your vet advises. Our pet puppies are placed on a spay and neuter agreement in the puppy contract, and in many cities the change also lowers the license fee at renewal.
Tags, Collars and a Very Small Dog
A Chihuahua should walk on a harness, because a collar that pulls presses on a small windpipe. The license tag still needs to be on the dog, so we suggest a very light breakaway collar just for the tag and ID, and clip the leash to the harness. A full-size metal tag can be heavy for a 3 pound dog; small slide-on tags are easier to carry. In winter, check that the coat does not cover the tag completely. Our new Chihuahua puppy checklist lists the harness and collar sizes we suggest.
Other Twin Cities Rules Worth Knowing
Most Twin Cities cities require dogs to be leashed in public outside designated off-leash areas, and owners must pick up after their dogs, snow or no snow. Minneapolis and St. Paul both have fenced off-leash dog parks. A Chihuahua is usually safer in a small-dog section or at a quiet hour, because a friendly large dog can hurt a tiny one by accident. In winter, salted paths are another reason to keep trips short; our Chihuahua winter care guide covers paws, coats and safe outdoor times.
Our View: Set the Reminder the Day of the Rabies Shot
The license is the step families forget most often in the busy first months, usually because the rabies vaccine comes weeks after the puppy arrives. Our advice is simple: when your vet gives the rabies shot, put a reminder in your phone for that evening and apply the same week. It is a small job that protects your dog for years. If you have questions about any of the paperwork that comes with a puppy from Twin Cities Chihuahuas, ask us, or see the puppies we are raising now on our teacup Chihuahua puppies for sale page.