Minnehaha County, SD Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- No animal shall run at large (Sec. 3.02)
- At-large test
- Off premises, not under immediate physical control
- Who enforces
- Animal Control Officer or Law Enforcement Officer
- Consequence
- Seizure and impoundment under Article IV
- Violation class
- Class 2 misdemeanor (Art. VIII § 8.01)
- Ordinance
- MC52-17, adopted 11-14-2017
Summary
No animal may run at large in unincorporated Minnehaha County. An animal off its owner's premises and not under immediate physical control, meaning on a leash or otherwise actively restrained, is legally a stray and can be captured and impounded by an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement.
3.02 RUN AT LARGE/STRAY ANIMAL. No animal shall run at large. An animal shall be declared to be running at large or be declared to be a stray animal whenever such animal is off the premises and not under the immediate physical control of its owner, possessor, keeper, agent, servant, or a member of the immediate family thereof. Whenever an animal is declared to be running at large or declared to be a stray animal, the same shall constitute prima facie evidence that the owner permitted it to run at large or be a stray animal, and the Animal Control Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, or their authorized designee may control and impound the animal, and dispose of the animal as set forth in Article V.
Full Breakdown
02 of the 2017 Revised Animal Control Ordinance (MC52-17) states flatly that no animal shall run at large, and defines an animal as running at large or a stray whenever it is off the premises and not under the immediate physical control of its owner, possessor, keeper, agent, servant, or a family member. That status alone is prima facie evidence the owner permitted the animal to run at large or be a stray, which the county can rely on without further proof of intent. 02 directs disposition under Article IV's seizure and reclamation procedures, meaning notice to the owner, an opportunity to reclaim the animal, or eventual adoption or euthanasia if it is not redeemed.
06 as a cord, thong, or chain by which the animal is controlled by the accompanying person, tying the at-large standard directly to physical restraint. Owners who leave an animal loose off their own property, even briefly, risk having it picked up and processed through the county's impoundment system rather than simply returned.
Violations & Fines
Allowing an animal to run at large is enforced as a Class 2 misdemeanor under Article VIII, Section 8.01 of the ordinance. Beyond the citation, the at-large animal itself can be seized and impounded under Article IV, with the owner responsible for locating it through the shelter and paying any impoundment, board, and related costs before reclaiming it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash in my own yard in Minnehaha County?
What counts as 'immediate physical control' under the ordinance?
What happens if Animal Control picks up my loose dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minnehaha County
Compare Minnehaha County to another location·View the South Dakota animal ordinances overview
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