Roof Rat Laws › Minnesota › Saint Paul
Summary. Good news if you live in Saint Paul: we checked, and Saint Paul is no stricter than Minnesota. The city’s animal rules prohibit rats, mice, or guinea pigs only when they are NOT kept as pets; kept as pets, they are expressly allowed. (Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 198; the prohibited list is wild and dangerous species like roosters, wolf hybrids, and large cats.) 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
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 198 prohibits rats, mice, or guinea pigs only when they are not kept as pets, which means rats, mice, and guinea pigs are allowed when kept as pets. The prohibited-animal list is wild and dangerous species (roosters, wolf hybrids, large cats, etc.), not pet rodents. Not stricter than Minnesota.
Sources: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local rodent-breeding restriction; the state’s permissive rule applies.
Sources: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota
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.
Sources: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Transport & import Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local transport restriction on a pet rat; the state’s rule applies.
Sources: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Official sources
- Saint Paul, Prohibited Animals / Keeping of Animals (Legislative Code ch. 198): rats, mice, guinea pigs allowed if kept as pets, City of Saint Paul, 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.