Lakeville, MN Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Lakeville does not publish a stand-alone ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife. On its Common Code Requirements guidance, the City of Lakeville addresses coyotes by stating there are no restrictions on them and advising residents to learn to live with them, which indicates the city does not treat the presence of wildlife as a code violation on its own. The city's prohibited-animals ordinance (City Code 5-1-19) bars keeping wild species - such as wild canines, skunks, and raccoons - as pets, but that is distinct from a prohibition on feeding free-ranging wildlife. Residents should still be mindful that intentionally feeding wildlife can attract nuisance animals and predators; the city specifically requires that backyard chickens be confined overnight to avoid attracting predators, reflecting a general concern about wildlife attractants. Statewide, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources discourages and in some cases restricts feeding certain wildlife (for example, deer-feeding restrictions tied to disease management), so residents should check current DNR rules for their area. For wildlife conflicts in Lakeville, the city directs residents to contact the Lakeville Police Department or Community Service Officer. Because the city does not have a specific feeding ban, this topic is governed mainly by general nuisance principles and statewide DNR guidance rather than a Lakeville feeding ordinance.