Policies & FAQ

Please do not feed the animals! They are on a special diet. Please do not touch the plants; flowers and foliage can be easily damaged.

Bikes, in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, roller skates, shoes with wheels, hoverboards, self-balancing scooters/boards, and motorized children’s vehicles are prohibited.

For the safety of our zoo animals, no balloons of any kind are allowed on our grounds, or in any of our buildings. Thank you for understanding this request. If you arrive with balloons you will be asked to return them to your vehicles. Laser pointers are also prohibited.

Please no food or beverages in any Zoo or Conservatory buildings.

Please help keep Como Park Zoo and Conservatory clean; use trash receptacles.

Lost items found on the Zoo and Conservatory grounds are taken to the Visitor Services Desk in the Visitor Center. Items are kept for three weeks. Visitor Services may be contacted at 651-487-8201.

Items lost within Como Town are kept by Como Town staff. Como Town may be contacted at 651-487-2121.

NO PETS ARE ALLOWED on the grounds of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory with the exception of Service Animals as defined by the ADA. It is against the law in Minnesota to misrepresent an animal as a service animal and is punishable by fines and jail time. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not a service animal and their owners may be liable under this law. MN Statute 609.833. While service animals are permitted, if it is noticed that the service animal is causing undue stress on zoo animals the owner may be requested to remove their service animal from a building or the zoo grounds. Please see our Service Dog Guide by clicking HERE.

It’s okay to take candid pictures, but posed photography, group photos, and tripods are not allowed in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

**AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT ISSUING PHOTO PERMITS DURING OUR PUBLIC HOURS (10AM-4PM OCTOBER-MARCH, 10AM-6PM APRIL-SEPTEMBER). WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.**

More information on our photo policy can be found here: https://comozooconservatory.org/marjorie-mcneely-conservatory-photography-policy/

Our rates for a 30-minute private photo session before or after our business hours can be found below. Please contact our Facility Rentals Department at 651-487-8250 or at comoweddings@ci.stpaul.mn.us to book your session.

By visiting, and upon entering Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, each person acknowledges and grants permission to be photographed, videotaped, recorded, or otherwise reproduce their image and/or voice of themselves and all accompanying minors, without compensation, for Como’s purposes, including copying, distribution and other uses. Any such image or recording may be used for advertising or commercial purposes (including, but not limited to: social media, print, television, online, website, and promotional purposes) at the discretion of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.

Please help us reduce our waste by recycling your plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and milk cartons and juice boxes in our new recycling stations located throughout the Zoo and Conservatory grounds.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is a “Smoke Free” destination.  There is no smoking allowed on the grounds or in any buildings of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Smoking cannabis, tobacco, hemp products, and E-Cigarettes are also prohibited from grounds.

Please obey signs; stay on walkways and out of fenced areas.

Service animals are permitted, but may cause undue stress on zoo animals. In this case, the owner may be requested to remove their service animal from a building or the zoo grounds. Please see our Service Dog Guide by clicking HERE.

The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. It is against the law in Minnesota to misrepresent an animal as a service animal and is punishable by fines and jail time. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not a service animal and their owners may be liable under this law. MN Statute 609.833.

Read the Minnesota Council on Disability information on service dogs by clicking HERE

Additional Information

• Service Animal Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
• Service Animal Notice signage (PDF)
• ADA Requirements: Service Animals
• Service Animals FAQ – US Dept. of Justice, Phone: 800-514-0301
• Service and Emotional Support Animals – MN Dept. of Human Rights, Phone: 651-539-1100 or 1-800-657-3704

NO PETS ARE ALLOWED on the grounds of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory with the exception of Service Animals as defined by the ADA. It is against the law in Minnesota to misrepresent an animal as a service animal and is punishable by fines and jail time. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not a service animal and their owners may be liable under this law. MN Statute 609.833. While service animals are permitted, if it is noticed that the service animal is causing undue stress on zoo animals the owner may be requested to remove their service animal from a building or the zoo grounds. Please see our Service Dog Guide by clicking HERE.

Picnic tables are available first come – first serve for the general public in Como Park located across Midway Parkway near the Palm Lot parking lot and Como Town Amusements. Click here for more information on the Como Park picnic area.

Picnic shelters in Como Park can be reserved by calling the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Parks Permit Office at 651-632-5111.

Any grassy area in public spaces is also available for picnic-style lunches.

We want all our guests to enjoy their visit to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Please familiarize yourself with our park policies before you arrive.

Wheel chairs and electric scooters, yes. Strollers, no. You may bring your own though.

Wheelchairs & electric scooters can be rented in Garden Safari Gifts. Per day, wheelchairs rent for $10.00 and electric scooters rent for $30.00. A valid ID is required as collateral. In addition, electric scooters require a major credit card. All rentals must be returned to Garden Safari Gifts before the Zoo and Conservatory close. Wheelchairs and electric scooters may not be reserved ahead of time.

There are many ways to support Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Visitors can donate, become a member or sponsor a garden or animal through Como Friends, the nonprofit partner of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. They can be reached at 651-487-8229 or by visiting www.comofriends.org.

Detailed driving directions to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

Click here for a map of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory grounds and for the location of our parking lots.

Click here for a map of Como Regional Park and the parking lots throughout the park.

To get to us by bus, contact Metro Transit at 612-373-3333 or visit www.metrotransit.org for current bus routes and schedules.

For an interactive Saint Paul Bike Map click HERE.

Como Friends and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory receive many more requests for donations than can be accommodated. We do try to fulfill, on a monthly basis, as many that fit the criteria below (up to 10 per month).

• Similar Mission: The mission of the Zoo and Conservatory is to inspire our public to value the presence of living things in our lives.
• Partner Organization: Como Friends and the Zoo & Conservatory work with many partner non-profits. If your organization has a relationship with Como, your request will receive a higher priority.
• Volunteer Involvement: Como values our 1,200 volunteers. If a volunteer of Como Friends or the Zoo & Conservatory is involved in your organization, your request will receive a higher priority

Requests should be received by Como Friends 60 days in advance of the event donation deadline:

Send the following information to the address below or email to comomembership@comofriends.org.

Contact Name
Organization Name, Mailing Address, Phone, Website
Organization mission, audience served
Explanation of partner relationship or volunteer involvement (see above)
Date of Event, anticipated audience
Date donation is needed

If you have any questions about donation requests, please email comomembership@comofriends.org.

Como Friends
Attn: Donation Request
1225 Estabrook Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55103

Check out Field Trip guide by clicking HERE

April 1 – September 30: 10AM – 6PM everyday

October 1 – March 31: 10AM – 4PM everyday

During inclement weather, some animals may be off display and some exhibits or gardens may be closed.

Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are free, but we do need help from our visitors. We ask that our visitors consider making a voluntary donation of $4 for an adult and $2 for a child to help us care for our plants and animals. We appreciate your support and want you to know that everyone is always welcome whether or not you choose to make a donation. Parking is free.

**AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT ISSUING PHOTO PERMITS DURING OUR PUBLIC HOURS (10AM-4PM). WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.**

It’s okay to take pictures, but tripods are not allowed in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. All photographers (professional or amateur) who conduct posed photography are required to review our policy for Posed and Commercial Photography and obtain a Photography Permit.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. It is against the law in Minnesota to misrepresent an animal as a service animal and is punishable by fines and jail time. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not a service animal and their owners may be liable under this law. MN Statute 609.833.

As we strive to provide you with a safe and positive experience, we kindly ask all service animals to be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service dog’s work, or a disability prevents the use of these devices.

In accordance with the ADA, staff may ask the following questions in order to determine if the dog is a service dog:

• Is this a service dog?
• Has this dog been trained to assist a guest here today with a disability?
• What task has this dog been trained to preform?

WAYFINDING WITH YOUR SERVICE DOG IN THE ZOO

In compliance with the ADA, service dogs can be “restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated,” or if the safety of any Zoo animal or service dog is in question.

Please be aware of the unique setting in which you are bringing a service dog.

During your visit, service dogs that are not properly trained, and not under the owner’s control, or are displaying adverse reactions to our animal collection may be asked to leave Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Furthermore, Zoo animals displaying aggressive or agitated behavior because of a service dog’s presence will prompt the removal of the service dog from that area. If this is a common reoccurrence, it may warrant removal of the service dog from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.

You can download the Service Dog Guide by clicking HERE

Additional Information

• Service Animal Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
• Service Animal Notice signage (PDF)
• ADA Requirements: Service Animals
• Service Animals FAQ – US Dept. of Justice, Phone: 800-514-0301
• Service and Emotional Support Animals – MN Dept. of Human Rights, Phone: 651-539-1100 or 1-800-657-3704

Outside gardens, yes (except the Japanese Garden). Inside gardens, no. We know and appreciate that the indoor gardens at Como are a popular destination for these photos. But, in order to allow free-flowing foot traffic and provide an enjoyable experience for all our guests, any and all types of posed photography are not allowed during our open hours.

We invite you to rent the gardens before or after public hours for all photography needs. Contact us at (651) 487-8250 or comoweddings@ci.stpaul.mn.us for more information and pricing.

Click HERE for our volunteer opportunities.

No, you cannot. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors, the City of Saint Paul and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory prohibits unauthorized operation or use of any unmanned aerial vehicle on or above Como Park Zoo & Conservatory year-round. This includes all UAVs, commonly known as “drones,” regardless of commercial or recreational purpose. Any UAV(s) observed at or near Como Park Zoo & Conservatory will be reported to local law enforcement and the Federal Aviation Administration.