Roof Rat Laws › Minnesota › Minneapolis
Summary. Good news if you live in Minneapolis: we checked, and Minneapolis is no stricter than Minnesota. Minnesota’s regulated-animals law (Minn. Stat. 346.155) covers dangerous exotics like big cats, bears, and primates, not rodents, so a pet rat is unregulated statewide. Minneapolis licenses dogs, cats, and ferrets and regulates dangerous and exotic species and reptiles, but imposes no restriction on keeping a pet rat. A pet roof rat is allowed, the same as Minnesota.
legal note
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.Status by activity
Keeping / owning Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
Minnesota’s regulated-animal statute (Minn. Stat. 346.155) lists dangerous exotic species (large cats, bears, primates, etc.) and does not include rodents, so a pet rat is unregulated at the state level. Minneapolis Title 4 (Animal Care and Control) licenses dogs, cats, and ferrets and regulates dangerous and exotic animals and reptiles, but has no restriction on keeping pet rats. Not stricter than Minnesota.
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local rodent-breeding restriction; the state’s permissive rule applies.
Selling or giving away Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local restriction on giving or selling a pet rat; the state’s rule applies.
Transport & import Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local transport restriction on a pet rat; the state’s rule applies.
Official sources
- Minneapolis Code of Ordinances Title 4 (Animal Care and Control), City of Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minnesota Statutes 346.155 (Possessing regulated animals; rodents not listed), State of Minnesota
Search terms: Rattus rattus, roof rat, pet, exotic animal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-20, which is when a person last read this page against its sources. Spotted an error, or know the law has changed? Email blonderoofrat@gmail.com. And if you write to the agency yourself and get an answer in writing, please forward it. Written agency replies are how 31 of these pages stopped being research and became confirmed.