Richfield, Minnesota

905.01. – Licensing of domestic animals.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section the terms defined in this subsection have the meanings given them.

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Subd. 3a. “Commercial kennel” means a place where the business of selling, boarding, breeding, showing, or grooming dogs or cats is conducted.

905.03. – License.

Subdivision 1. General rule. No person may own, harbor, keep or have custody of an animal over six (6) months of age within the City, unless a current license for the animal has been obtained as provided in this subsection. Applications for animal licenses must be made when the animal attains six (6) months of age, (i) and not later than 30 days from the acquisition of an animal, (ii) and not later than 30 days from the moving of an animal into the City, (iii) this registration will expire on the date the animal’s rabies vaccination expires, and must be reinstated within 15 days of the expiration of the animal’s rabies vaccination. Owners whose animals have received rabies vaccinations which are effective for more than one (1) year may apply for a two (2) or three (3) year license, depending on the type of rabies vaccination. When making application for a multi-year license, the owner must submit all of the information required for an annual license as well as documentation indicating that the animal has received a rabies vaccination which is effective for the multi-year license being applied for. The multi-year license may not exceed the period of effective rabies vaccination stated on the vaccination certificate provided by the veterinary clinic, or veterinarian, which vaccinated the animal. These multi-year licenses may only be issued for animals which have been spayed or neutered.

905.31. – Kennel licenses.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. The terms “commercial kennel,” “veterinary kennel,” and “multi-pet residence” are defined in section 905.01.

Subd. 2. License required. No person may operate a veterinary or commercial kennel or a multi-pet residence in this City without first obtaining a license as provided in this subsection. Application for the license shall be made to the public safety Director or designee and must be accompanied by the license fee set by appendix D. The public safety Director or designee shall administratively approve or deny the license. Licenses issued for kennels shall be on an annual calendar basis, which will run from January 1 through December 31. Any resident who chooses to appeal the Director’s or designee’s administrative denial of the multi-pet residence, commercial kennel or veterinary kennel license may appeal that decision to the City Council. There will, however, be a non-refundable $500.00 appeal fee to do so. The Director or designee or Council may impose conditions upon the granting of any multi-pet residence, veterinary, or commercial kennel license.

Subd. 3. Approval of contiguous property owners. The application for a multi-pet residence license, shall be accompanied by a petition showing the approval of the occupants of privately owned real estate abutting the premises on which the multi-pet residence is to be located. Whether or not all of the occupants of abutting property approve the application, the Director or designee may grant or deny the license. The license may not be granted unless the Director or designee finds that the use of the applicant’s premises as a multi-pet residence will not have, or will not be likely to have, any adverse effect upon adjacent properties or the occupancy thereof, and will not constitute a nuisance to the neighborhood.

Subd. 3a. Multi-pet licenses; special provisions. The maximum number of animals allowed under a multi-pet residence license is five, either two (2) cats and three (3) dogs or three (3) cats and two (2) dogs. Except as provided in this subdivision, no license may be granted to allow more than three (3) cats or more than three (3) dogs on any one (1) premise. No license is required for a combination of up to two (2) dogs and two (2) cats on one (1) premise. For any multi-pet residence licenses issued prior to the effective date of this subdivision 3a, where the license allowed more than three (3) cats or more than three (3) dogs on the premise, the Director or designee may renew the license for the same number of animals, on the condition that the licensee may not replace any animals that die or are removed from the premises until the licensee can do so in compliance with the maximum number stated in the first sentence of this subdivision. A multi-pet residence license may only be granted if the keeping of the dogs or cats is incidental to the occupancy of the premises for residential purposes.

Subd. 3b. Zoning Compliance. A license will not be granted for a veterinary kennel or commercial kennel unless the kennel use complies with applicable requirements of the zoning code.

Subd. 4. Revocation. Kennel or multi-pet residence licenses may be revoked by the Council by reason of any violation of this subsection or by reason of violation of any other provisions of this code or any order, law or regulation.

Subd. 5. Notice and hearing. Before revoking a kennel license or a multi-pet residence license, the licensee shall be given notice of the meeting at which such revocation will be considered, and if the licensee is present at such meeting, the licensee must be given an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the meeting shall be given to the licensee in writing. Written notice shall be mailed to the address of the licensee as set forth in the licensee’s application for the kennel license or multi-pet residence license, and it shall be mailed at least five (5) days before the date of the meeting at which the revocation is to be considered by the Council.

Subd. 6. License fees. The fee for a veterinary or commercial kennel license and the fee for a multi-pet residence license are as fixed in appendix D. The multi-pet residence license fee is in addition to the usual animal license fees provided in this section, if applicable.

Subd. 7. Sanitation. Kennels and properties holding a multi-pet residence license shall be maintained in a clean and healthful condition at all times, and shall be open to inspection by the Director of public safety, at all reasonable times.