Environmental Rules in Dakota County, MN (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Dakota County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Dakota County shoreland caps impervious surface coverage at 25% of a lot and requires new development to manage stormwater with constructed wetlands, vegetated buffers or settling basins before runoff reaches public waters. Any newly built stormwater outfall to a lake or river must filter or settle solids first.
Stormwater Management Rules, Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 50, Sec. 16.07(A)(4), (B)(1), (B)(4)
A. GENERAL STANDARDS FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. ... 4. Preference must be given to designs using surface drainage, vegetation and infiltration rather than buried pipes and manmade materials and facilities. Settling basins to intercept urban runoff shall be sized to a minimum of a 10-year storm design. B. SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. 1. Impervious surface coverage of lots must n...
Erosion Control
Dakota County requires grading and filling on unincorporated shoreland to expose the smallest amount of bare ground for the shortest time, follow the state Construction Stormwater General Permit, and stabilize altered areas to standards the zoning administrator sets under the MPCA Construction Stormwater Manual.
Erosion Control During Grading, Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 50, Sec. 16.04(D)
D. The following considerations and conditions must be adhered to during the issuance of building permits, shoreland alteration permits, conditional use permits and variances: 1. Any activity below the ordinary high water level of a DNR Protected Water may require a permit from the DNR. 2. Alterations must be designed and conducted in a manner that ensures that only the smallest amount of bare ...
Flood Zones
Unincorporated Dakota County splits its floodplain into Floodway, Flood Fringe and General Floodplain Districts based on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, and any construction, fill, excavation or use change inside them needs a floodplain permit from the Zoning Administrator plus engineer or surveyor certification of finished elevations.
Floodplain Development Rules in Dakota County
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 50, Sec. 19.01(A)-(C)
A. FLOODWAY DISTRICT. The Floodway District shall include those areas designated as floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Map adopted in section 18.03. B. FLOOD FRINGE DISTRICT. The Flood Fringe District shall include those areas designated as Zone AE on the Flood Insurance Rate Map adopted in section 18.03 that are located outside of the floodway. C. GENERAL FLOODPLAIN DISTRICT. The General Flo...
Boat Dock Permits
Docks wider than eight feet on unincorporated Dakota County shoreland need a shoreland building permit from the Zoning Administrator and may also require a Minnesota DNR dock permit. Permanent docks and boathouses are banned outright in the Recreational and Scenic River Districts, where even a temporary dock needs a conditional use permit.
Boat Dock Permits in Unincorporated Dakota County
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 50, Sec. 16.02(4)(g)-(h)
g. Boathouses, piers or permanent docks are not allowed in the Recreational or Scenic River District. Any type of temporary dock or waterfront use in the Scenic River District shall require a conditional use permit. h. Docks that exceed eight feet in width require a shoreland building permit and may require a dock permit from the DNR.
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the unincorporated Flood Fringe District, Dakota County requires new structures to be built on non-settling fill with the lowest floor at or above the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, one foot above the regional flood elevation. Basements below that elevation are banned outright.
Flood Fringe Elevation Rules, Dakota County MN
Some RestrictionsDakota County Ordinance No. 50, Sec. 19.03(C); Sec. 18.04
C. LOWEST FLOOR ELEVATION. 1. Structures must be constructed on non-settling fill so that the lowest floor is at or above the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation. The finished fill elevation shall be no lower than one foot below the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation and shall extend at such elevation at least 15 feet beyond the limits of any structure or building erected thereon. Principa...
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