Bloomington may write 2 new animal rules into city code. One would be a humane pet store ordinance, modeled on New Hope's. The other would bar circuses that use wild animals. Neither has been drafted yet. On October 12, the City Council asked staff to look into both, and that request is the whole of the story so far.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNCouncil members turn resident requests into asks for staff, covering the 2 animal ordinances and a revisit of parking signs.10/12
The idea came from residents. The council held a listening session before its regular meeting that Monday, at 5:45 p.m. in the Haeg Conference Room at Civic Plaza. The posted agenda had no topics on it, just an open floor. Residents used that time to raise the pet store and circus questions.
Later in the regular meeting, Council Member Dallessandro brought both ideas back to the table and asked staff to study them. The mayor said he supported the idea. One speaker called them "potential preemptive ordinances," one around a humane pet store and one around circuses with wild animals. No one has written a draft, so there are no definitions, penalties or effective dates yet.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNA council member names the 2 ordinances residents raised and calls them 'preemptive.'10/12
Calling them "preemptive" fits how these rules usually work. Humane pet store ordinances are meant to stop pet stores from selling puppy-mill puppies. The model is a store that doesn't sell commercially bred animals, according to the Minnesota advocacy group Animal Folks. The group says Roseville was the first Minnesota city to pass one and St. Paul has passed one too. For Bloomington, the question is whether to set those rules before any business shows up that they would affect.
Parking signs are also headed to a future council study session, where members discuss an issue without voting.
Nothing is scheduled yet. Staff have to come back with research before there's anything to vote on. If the council wants to move ahead, an ordinance would go through the usual readings and public notice before it could take effect. No date has been set for the staff report or for the parking sign study session. This story will be updated as each one lands on an agenda.
To weigh in, residents can do what got these ideas started: speak at a council listening session at Civic Plaza, or contact their council member directly. The earlier you speak up, the more say you'll have in what goes into a draft.
From the meeting: City Council Meeting, October 12, 2026.
