Carver County, MN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 91.06(B)(1)
- Leash limit
- 6 feet maximum
- Off-leash allowed
- only in designated pet exercise areas
- Pet waste
- handler must carry a cleanup device
- Enforcement
- impoundment plus per diem fee
- Penalty class
- misdemeanor under § 91.99
Summary
Carver County requires dogs, cats, and other pets to be caged or kept on a leash no more than six feet long and under the handler's control inside any county park, except in a Board-designated pet exercise area.
Bring any dog, cat, or other pet into a park, unless caged or kept on a leash not more than six feet in length and under the handler's control, unless in a pet exercise area designated by the Board;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 111-2025, passed 7-25-25).
Full Breakdown
06(B)(1), with an exception for Board-designated pet exercise areas where animals may run off-leash. 06(B)(5). These rules apply on county park property, including regional parks such as Lake Minnewashta, not on private trails or municipal park land inside cities like Chaska or Norwood Young America. 10(C) specifically authorizes the Sheriff's Office or local agencies to impound pets found in violation and to collect an impoundment fee plus a per diem fee set under the county's animal control contract.
Violations & Fines
Bringing an unleashed pet, tethering an animal to park property, or failing to clean up waste violates § 91.06(B) and is a misdemeanor under § 91.99, tied to Minn. Stat. § 398.34 and § 609.02(3). Under § 91.10(C), the Sheriff's Office may impound the pet and charge an impoundment fee plus a per diem holding fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my dog's leash be in a Carver County park?
What happens if my dog gets loose in the park?
Do I have to pick up after my dog at a county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carver County
Compare Carver County to another location·View the Minnesota animal ordinances overview
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