Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.114

PET DECLAWING AND DEVOCALIZATION PROHIBITED.

In Force
Verified 9/15/2026 · Next check 9/22/2026
effective 9/15/2026MinnesotaRent Regulation

Operative Text

Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.114
Subdivision 1.Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) "Animal" has the meaning given in section 343.20, subdivision 2.

(c) "Application for occupancy" means all phases of the process of applying for the right to occupy a real property, including but not limited to filling out applications, interviewing, and submitting references.

(d) "Claw" means a hardened keratinized modification of the epidermis or a hardened keratinized growth that extends from the end of the digits of certain mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that is commonly referred to as a claw, talon, or nail.

(e) "Declawing" means performing, procuring, or arranging for any procedure, such as an onychectomy, tendonectomy, or phalangectomy, to remove or prevent the normal function of an animal's claw or claws.

(f) "Devocalizing" means performing, procuring, or arranging for any surgical procedure, such as a vocal cordectomy, to remove an animal's vocal cords or to prevent the normal function of an animal's vocal cords.

Subd. 2.Prohibitions.
A landlord who allows an animal on the premises shall not:

(1) advertise the availability of a real property for occupancy in a manner designed to discourage application for occupancy of that real property because an applicant's animal has not been declawed or devocalized;

(2) refuse to allow the occupancy of a real property, refuse to negotiate the occupancy of a real property, or otherwise make unavailable or deny to another person the occupancy of a real property because of that person's refusal to declaw or devocalize an animal; or

(3) require a tenant or occupant of real property to declaw or devocalize an animal allowed on the premises. Any requirement or lease provision that violates this subdivision is void and unenforceable.

Subd. 3.Penalties.
(a) A city attorney, a county attorney, or the attorney general may bring an action in district court to obtain injunctive relief for a violation of this section and to enforce the civil penalties provided in this subdivision.

(b) In addition to any other penalty allowed by law, a violation of subdivision 2, clause (1), shall result in a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per advertisement, to be paid to the entity that is authorized to bring the action under this section.

(c) In addition to any other penalty allowed by law, a violation of subdivision 2, clause (2) or (3), shall result in a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per animal, to be paid to the entity that is authorized to bring the action under this section.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.114, landlords who permit animals on their property are prohibited from requiring tenants or applicants to have those animals declawed or devocalized as a condition of renting. Advertisements, lease terms, and rental negotiations may not be used to pressure or screen out people whose animals have not undergone these procedures. Any lease clause that attempts to impose such a requirement is explicitly void and unenforceable under this provision.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 15, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Minn. Stat. § 504B.114 means that property owners and managers who allow animals on their premises must review all advertising copy, application materials, and lease agreements to ensure none of them condition occupancy on an animal being declawed or devocalized. Compliant operators treat an animal's intact claws or vocal cords as a neutral characteristic during the application and leasing process. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per advertisement or per animal, enforceable by a city attorney, county attorney, or the state attorney general in district court.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Minn. Stat. § 504B.114 gives renters the right to keep animals with intact claws and vocal cords without a landlord being able to demand those procedures as a condition of applying for or maintaining a tenancy. Any lease provision purporting to require declawing or devocalization is void and unenforceable by law. Tenants who believe a landlord has violated this provision may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, reaching out to a city or county attorney's office, or consulting with the state attorney general's office, which are all authorized to seek civil penalties and injunctive relief on behalf of affected individuals.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Sep 15, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 326
Rules and regulations
§ 327
Saving clauses
§ 328
Effect of invalidity in part

Source Information

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