Minnetonka Could Open the Door for ‘Hobby Breeders’

Animal lovers who don’t want to manage an entire kennel could soon have a new option in Minnetonka.

On Monday, the City Council will introduce an ordinance that would allow for so-called “hobby breeders” that will allow residents to breed small numbers of animals without getting a commercial kennel license, according to a City Council memo.

Right now, the city ordinance requires those who breed animals for sale in most cases to obtain a kennel license.

However, the proposed ordinance would only require hobby breeders to get a multiple animal permit, which currently costs $10 per year.

Hobby breeders could breed no more than two litters per year. They could have up to six animals over 6 months old of the species being bred—but no more than eight animals total. For example, a household could have six breeding dogs and two pet cats.

The city wouldn’t issue a multiple animal permit or a kennel license to anyone whose home shares a wall with another residential unit.

The council will introduce the ordinance at Monday’s meeting but won’t take any action on it. It would be adopted on second reading.