Moving into a new apartment—even if you don’t need a dog-friendly rental—can be ruff stuff. You’ve gotta think about so many factors: price, location, deposit, move-in date, length of lease, style, amenities, and more. Then you’ve gotta pack up all your sh*t and haul it around! And as dog parents know all too well, it gets exponentially more difficult when you’ve got a furry family member to think about. Buildings that welcome dogs can be tough to find, and even those that are “dog-friendly” sometimes have breed restrictions that mean you and your pup might not be welcome.
We can’t help you box up your stuff and lift things on moving day—but we can try to help you find some Minneapolis dog-friendly apartments. Here are some of the area’s best options for humans and canines alike.
Twin Cities Rental Buildings With No Breed Restrictions
Lowertown Commons
Lowertown Commons has the best of both worlds: a historic building in Lowertown St. Paul with modern renovations that make it perfect for 21st century living. And their website boasts, “All dogs welcome!”
Studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments; $1,235 – $1,975 a month.
Tula Apartments
How pet-friendly is Tula in Uptown Minneapolis? Well, they’ve got a “pets” story highlighted on their Instagram where they post pics of the cutest canine (and feline!) residents, and we hear good dogs get treats from the folks in the front office. Plus, the place is just steps from Bde Maka Ska, so you have a go-to evening stroll around the Chain of Lakes all sorted out.
Website under construction; contact hello@tulampls.com for info on rates and rooms.
Borealis North Loop
Just a block from the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway and the mighty Mississippi, Borealis welcomes dogs of all breeds and sizes. We bet your pup’ll also enjoy the rooftop deck and cinema!
1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments starting at $1,625.
The Julia
Tough to beat the Julia’s location, tbh—living here means you’re right by Young Joni, and like, 30 breweries. And they love any and all dogs, regardless of breed: “We don’t believe in discrimination and can’t wait to meet all members of your fur-family.”
Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments starting at $1,072.
Twin Cities Rental Buildings With No Breed Restrictions and Dog-Friendly Amenities
Mezzo
New in Northeast, Mezzo’s got all kinds of amenities: a rooftop skydeck, a bike lounge—and a pet wash and grooming salon for the four-legged residents. Plus you’re blocks from Boom Island and not far from the Stone Arch Bridge, which means lots of good walkin’ for you and your bud.
Studio, 1, and 2-bedroom apartments starting at $1,295.
OxOp
OxOp’s irrigated rooftop dog run and in-house dog wash make it easy to have some fun, work up a stink, then take care of said stink, all without leaving the comfort of your boutique Downtown East building.
Studio, 1, and 2-bedroom apartments starting at $1,215.
110 Grant
Situated steps from the Loring Greenway and pretty dang close to a big off-leash dog park, 110 Grant bills itself as a “community for animal lovers.” It’s a pretty ideal place for big, active dogs with lots of energy to burn.
1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and townhomes; $1,444 – $2,947.
Pioneer Endicott
This historic building originally housed the Pioneer Press… now it can house you and your dog! Pioneer Endicott has a pooch porch and a pet spa for your furball, in a convenient central St. Paul location that’s close to the Green Line, connected to the skyway, and right by Xcel Energy Center and all kinds of other fun stuff. It’s a win-win-win-win-win.
Studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments; $1,050 – $2,675.
Asher
The Asher is among the most versatile buildings on our list, with rentals ranging from studio all the way up to 3-bedroom. With a high-tech fitness center and a bike lounge, their dog-friendly Uptown location is perfect for active humans and pups who want to keep it stylish, too. (All breeds welcome with Canine Good Citizen award from AKC.)
Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments; $1,117 – $3,030.
Currents
Yes, it’s located in Plymouth, but Currents gets four paws all the way up from Twin Cities-area pet owners. (Just look at that big doggo front and center on their homepage!) They’ve got doggy drinking stations, duty disposal stations “for those on the go,” and an off-leash dog yard—plus they host regular yappy hours for residents. Don’t take it from us: Find their whole list of man’s-best-friend amenities here.
Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments; $970 – $1465.
Twin Cities Budget-Friendly Living Options
If you’re looking for a place for you and your pup to call home, but new-construction rentals with all the bells and whistles aren’t in the budget, don’t worry! You don’t have to rely on apartment complexes for dog-friendly housing. In fact, privately owned homes, duplexes, and smaller apartments might be a better bet for your pet—lots of them are dog-friendly, and you’ll have the opportunity to contact the owner directly and tell them just how wonderful having your good boy as a tenant will be.
Tips for hopeful tenants:
- Give yourself enough time. When is your current lease up? You’ll want to start the search for new dog-friendly digs three months (or more) in advance to find a place that suits you and pup’s needs.
- Suggest a meet and greet. If the landlord is wary of your furry roommate, offer to meet up with them and bring your bud along so they can see how good he is.
- Have ruff-rences at the ready. You’ve probably rented with your pup before, right? Ask any previous landlords or neighbors to weigh in on your pal’s pristine behavior.
- Offer to put down a refundable pet deposit. It’ll cost you a little more, but offering to cough up a little extra cash can help convince property managers who are still wary (and it shows you’ve got the utmost confidence in your canine).
- Don’t give up, pup! Finding dog-friendly housing just takes a little longer. Keep calling, asking around, scanning Craigslist—whatever it takes—until you find the right one.
This list was compiled with a big assist from My Pit Bull Is Family’s dog-friendly housing database.
Know of any other Minneapolis dog-friendly apartments? Had luck with a landlord who housed you and your pup? Leave a woof to the wise in the comments or in our Dog-Friendly Twin Cities Facebook Group.
Featured photo: Kevin Turcios
Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram, join our Dog-Friendly Twin Cities Facebook Group, and grab one of our Dog-Friendly Brewery Passes.