Pet Sitting Service Permit Requirements in Rochester, MN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a pet sitting service in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Verified 2026-09-03 6 stops $100–$600 est. 1–3 weeks for in-home visiting pet sitting; up to 6 weeks if boarding from a home or commercial facility
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

2 stops

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS. Also recommended if you plan to open a dedicated business bank account.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

  2. Pet Sitter / Pet Care Insurance

    While not federally required, pet sitting businesses should carry general liability insurance and pet care, custody, and control (CCC) insurance to cover injuries, escapes, or accidental deaths of animals in your care. Professional organizations like PSI (Pet Sitters International) and NAPPS offer member insurance programs. Most clients and professional standards bodies recommend at least $1 million in liability coverage.

    Official government source

    $200–$1,500/year depending on coverage and business sizeObtained before accepting clients

State of Minnesota

2 stops

  1. Minnesota — Pet Sitting License Requirements

    Minnesota does not require a state license for pet sitting or dog walking. The Board of Animal Health's kennel license under Minn. Stat. 347.31 to 347.40 is narrower than it sounds: it covers places keeping dogs or cats obtained from municipalities, pounds, auctions, strays, or by advertising for unwanted animals, and expressly excludes a person's home where dogs or cats are kept as pets. Local rules still apply — in Rochester an outdoor dog permit is a city license, and Olmsted County animal regulations may reach a boarding facility.

    Official government source

    $0 for an in-home pet sitter. Where the state kennel license does apply, Minn. Stat. 347.33 sets it at $15 per year for each kennel and $100 per year for each dealer.Not applicable to an individual in-home sitter; the state kennel license is annual and issued after a Board of Animal Health inspection

  2. Minnesota Sales Tax Registration (Minnesota Tax ID)

    Pet sitting and dog walking ARE taxable services in Minnesota. The Department of Revenue treats caring for an animal at the owner's home or the provider's home, and walking, exercising or entertaining animals, as taxable pet care services when you are in the business of providing them. You must register for a Minnesota Tax ID and collect tax on those services, and on any pet products you sell. Combined rates are 9.875% in Saint Paul and 8.125% in Rochester.

    Official government source

    FreeOnline through e-Services (Business Tax Registration)

City of Rochester / Olmsted County

2 stops

  1. No General Business License in Rochester

    The City of Rochester states there is no general business license and no occupational tax certificate — only certain specific business types need a city license. Its published list is circus, escort service and individual escorts, fireworks display and sales, ice cream vending vehicles, massage therapist and massage therapy business, mobile food unit, outdoor dog permit, pawnbroker, private adult dancer, sidewalk/street cafes and parklets, and vending cart. Pet sitting and dog walking are not among them, though a home-based operation must still comply with city zoning rules for home occupations.

    Official government source

    $0 — Rochester issues no general business license or occupational tax certificateNot applicable — there is no general city license to apply for

  2. Rochester / Olmsted County — Animal Care Facility Permit (if boarding)

    Rochester does not license animal boarding or pet care as a business: the City states there is no general business license, and its list of licensed business types contains no kennel, boarding, or animal care facility category. Household pets need no city license (they must be rabies-vaccinated and tagged or microchipped), and only specific animals - chickens, ducks, pigeons - require permits. If you keep more than nine animals at a residential property, a breeder's permit is required under city ordinance (Rochester Code of Ordinances Chapter 3-1 and related chapters). Confirm zoning for a commercial boarding facility before signing a lease.

    Official government source

    No city license fee for pet sitting or boarding; a breeder's permit applies only if you keep more than nine animals at a residential propertyNot applicable unless a breeder's permit or zoning approval is needed

Terminus

Open for business — est. $100–$600 · 1–3 weeks for in-home visiting pet sitting; up to 6 weeks if boarding from a home or commercial facility

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