Dog & Cat Licensing

Dog and cats who reside within the Cottage Grove city limits must be licensed. All dogs using the City's dog park must have a current license. 

A pet owner can obtain an animal license by mailing a Pet License Application (PDF) or submitting it in person at:
     Public Safety Department (Police)
     12800 Ravine Parkway S
     Cottage Grove, MN 55016

  • Normal business hours, 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • Payment options are cash, check, or credit card.
  • Proof of rabies vaccination must be provided when purchasing the license.
  • Call 651-458-2850 with questions.

Fees

  • All dogs and cats over the age of six months must be vaccinated against rabies and receive an annual license.
  • The yearly license fee is $15 per calendar year for an altered dog or cat, or $20 per calendar for a dog or cat that is not spayed or neutered.
  • The lifetime license fee for an animal that is not altered (spayed/neutered) is $75, if your animal is altered the fee is $60, and if your animal is both altered and microchipped the fee is $50.
  • Payment options are cash, check, or credit card.

Multiple Animal Licenses

  • No more than a total of three dogs and cats can be maintained at a residence.
  • To temporarily receive permission to maintain more than three dogs and/or cats, a Multiple Animal License must be obtained. Cottage Grove City Code limits the total number of dogs and/or cats under a Multiple Animal License to five.
  • Maintaining a breeding/boarding/training kennel in a single-family residential zoning district, or in any other zoning district without a conditional use permit, is prohibited.

Ordinances

There are several City ordinances that address pets and pet licensing in Cottage Grove. They can be can be viewed online.

Wild or Exotic Animals

Keeping any animal that is normally considered wild, ferocious, or vicious by nature, is prohibited, and defined in City Code 5-4-1.

City's Dog Park

WAG Farms Dog Park is a 14 acre, fully fenced park where dogs of all sizes can exercise and socialize while being off-leash. It is part of Cottage Grove's municipal park system and is operated and maintained primarily by the WAG Farms Dog Park Association, a group of volunteers dedicated to providing this wonderful asset for area dog owners. Click here to learn more about this partnership or donate to the park.