Does Wright County, MN have its own breed restrictions ordinance?

No. Wright County, MN does not appear to have a local breed restrictions ordinance, Minnesota state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Minnesota Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Wright County

Wright County, MN Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Few Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Breed Bans: Void statewide (§347.51)
Pit Bulls: Cannot be banned
Basis: Individual behavior only
Dangerous Dogs: §§347.50–347.565

Summary

Minnesota preempts breed bans. No Wright County city, Buffalo, Monticello, St. Michael, or Albertville, may outlaw a dog by breed. Under section 347.51, subdivision 8, breed-specific ordinances are void. Dogs are regulated only for dangerous behavior.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Wright County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A statutory or home rule charter city, or a county, may not adopt an ordinance regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on the specific breed of the dog. Ordinances inconsistent with this subdivision are void.

Source: Minnesota StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

A common myth is that Minnesota cities can ban pit bulls. They cannot. Minnesota Statutes section 347.51, subdivision 8, bars any statutory or home-rule city, or a county, from regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on breed, and declares inconsistent ordinances void. So no ordinance in Buffalo, Monticello, Albertville, St. Michael, or unincorporated Wright County may target pit bulls, Rottweilers, or any breed. Enforcement is behavior-based: a specific dog can be declared dangerous under sections 347.50 to 347.565 after conduct such as an unprovoked bite, then muzzled, leashed, and registered. Landlords and insurers may still set their own breed conditions by private contract.

Violations & Fines

A breed-specific local ordinance is void and unenforceable under state law. An individual dog is restrained only through a dangerous-dog designation based on its own behavior, carrying registration, muzzling, and containment orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Buffalo or Monticello ban pit bulls?

No. Minnesota Statutes section 347.51, subdivision 8 makes breed-specific ordinances void, so no Wright County city or the county itself may ban or restrict any dog breed.

How are dangerous dogs handled?

By behavior. Under sections 347.50 to 347.565 a specific dog can be declared dangerous after an incident and ordered muzzled, leashed, registered, and securely confined.

Sources & Official References

[1]Minnesota Statutes

Other rules in Wright County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome Restrictions Exotic PetsHeavy Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesFew Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Wright County rules

How Wright County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Wright County to another location·View the Minnesota animal ordinances overview

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