Minnesota bans private possession of regulated dangerous animals — big cats, bears, and most non-human primates — under Minn. Stat. 346.155. Additional exotic-pet limits are set by your city. Dakota County itself does not license exotic pets.
Under the Minnesota Dangerous Animals Act, Minn. Stat. 346.155, a person may not possess a regulated animal, which includes all species of tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, and bears, plus most non-human primates, subject to narrow grandfather and licensed-facility exceptions. This statewide ban applies throughout Dakota County. Beyond that, whether smaller exotic pets (certain reptiles, ferrets, and others) are allowed is decided by your city's animal-keeping ordinance under Minn. Stat. Ch. 462, so rules vary among Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville and the other cities. Dakota County Public Health handles rabies/vector concerns but does not run an exotic-pet licensing program for households.
Possessing a regulated dangerous animal violates Minn. Stat. 346.155 (gross-misdemeanor level) and can trigger seizure. City exotic-pet violations carry separate municipal penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Dakota County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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