Animal Ordinances in Dakota County, MN (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Dakota County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In Dakota County Parks, dogs must be on a static (non-retractable) leash no more than six feet long, except in designated off-leash areas. Away from county parks, leash-at-large rules are set by your city or township, not the county.
Dog Leash Rules in Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 107, Section 4.6
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having control or custody of any pet to bring a pet into or have a pet in a County Park without it being caged or under physical control on a static leash no more than six (6) feet in length, except in areas designated for off-leash.
Breed Restrictions
Breed-specific bans are illegal in Minnesota. Under Minn. Stat. 347.51, subd. 8, no city or county may regulate dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on breed, and any such ordinance is void. Dakota County has no breed ban.
Dog Breed Restrictions in Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsMinn. Stat. 347.51, subd. 8
A statutory or home rule charter city, or a county, may not adopt an ordinance regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on the specific breed of the dog. Ordinances inconsistent with this subdivision are void.
Wildlife Feeding
In Dakota County parks it is unlawful to feed or otherwise disturb wildlife under Park Ordinance 107, Section 5.4. Off park land, deer and other wildlife-feeding limits are set by your city and by Minnesota DNR rules; the county has no general residential feeding ban.
Feeding Wildlife in Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 107, Section 5.4
To protect wildlife and their habitat, it shall be unlawful, when in a County Park, for any person to kill, trap, hunt, injure, pursue, feed, or in any manner disturb or cause to be disturbed any animals and/or species of wildlife, except fishing or hunting pursuant to State game and fish laws.
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