Dakota County sets no countywide backyard-chicken rule. Keeping hens or livestock is regulated by each city — Lakeville, Eagan, Farmington, Rosemount and Burnsville allow limited hens with permits and setbacks. Check your city's animal-keeping code before getting chickens.
Land use and animal-keeping in nearly-fully-incorporated Dakota County are municipal, authorized by Minn. Stat. Ch. 462 (city zoning). The county has no general chicken or livestock ordinance for residential lots. City rules vary widely: Lakeville (code 11-35-3) permits up to three hens in single-family residential zones, coop in the rear yard at least 20 feet from any lot line, birds confined sunset-to-sunrise; Eagan requires a permit for single-family properties; Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington and Rosemount each set their own hen limits and permit requirements. Roosters are commonly barred. On land zoned agricultural, farm animals follow the city/township agricultural-district standards.
Enforced by your city as a municipal (typically misdemeanor or administrative-citation) violation; fines, permit revocation, and removal orders vary by city.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Dakota County. State law bans putting yard waste in the trash, and the county runs free organics (food-scrap...
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Dakota County has no artificial-turf ordinance. Whether synthetic lawn is allowed, and any coverage or drainage limits, is decided by your city's zoning and ...
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Minnesota law requires every city to allow managed natural landscapes of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs, even over eight inches tall. D...
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Rain barrels and rain gardens are legal in Dakota County and encouraged for stormwater and groundwater protection. There is no county permit for residential ...
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Dakota County does not set watering restrictions. Your city or water utility does, typically odd/even address-day sprinkling and no midday watering during su...
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Minnesota's Noxious Weed Law requires all landowners to control noxious weeds. The mayor of each city and town supervisors serve as local weed inspectors; Da...
See how Dakota County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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