Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.261
PETS IN SUBSIDIZED DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE RENTAL HOUSING UNITS.
Operative Text
In a multiunit residential building, a tenant of a disability accessible unit, in which the tenant or the unit receives a subsidy that directly reduces or eliminates the tenant's rent responsibility, must be allowed to have two birds or one spayed or neutered dog or one spayed or neutered cat. A renter under this section may not keep or have visits from an animal that constitutes a threat to the health or safety of other individuals, or causes a noise nuisance or noise disturbance to other renters. The landlord may require the renter to pay an additional damage deposit in an amount reasonable to cover damage likely to be caused by the animal. The deposit is refundable at any time the renter leaves the unit of housing to the extent it exceeds the amount of damage actually caused by the animal.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.261, tenants living in disability accessible units within multiunit residential buildings who receive a rent subsidy are entitled to keep up to two birds, one spayed or neutered dog, or one spayed or neutered cat. However, animals that pose a health or safety threat, or create noise nuisances for other residents, are not permitted under this rule. Landlords may collect a refundable damage deposit in a reasonable amount to cover potential animal-related damage, which must be returned to the tenant minus any actual damages when they vacate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.261, operators of multiunit residential buildings with subsidized, disability accessible units generally recognize tenants' right to keep qualifying pets and do not impose blanket no-pet policies on those units. Compliant operators typically document any animal-related damage deposit as reasonable and tied to likely damage, and process refunds promptly upon a tenant's departure after accounting for actual damage. Operators also maintain clear written policies addressing animals that create health, safety, or noise concerns, since the statute preserves the right to restrict animals that constitute a genuine threat or nuisance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.261 gives tenants in subsidized, disability accessible units within multiunit buildings the right to keep up to two birds, one spayed or neutered dog, or one spayed or neutered cat, even if a lease contains a general no-pet clause. If a landlord refuses to allow a qualifying pet or imposes an unreasonable or non-refundable deposit, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision, file a complaint with a local housing authority, or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies. Tenants should be aware that the statute does not protect animals that threaten health or safety or cause noise disturbances to neighbors.
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.
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