Animal Ordinances in Minnehaha County, SD (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
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.
Minnehaha County Dogs Running at Large Ban
Some RestrictionsMinnehaha County Animal Control Ordinance MC52-17, § 3.02
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...
Breed Restrictions
Minnehaha County has no breed ban. Instead, the county's Revised Animal Control Ordinance lets an Animal Control Officer, a treating physician, or a court declare any individual dog or other animal "vicious" based on its own bite or attack history, triggering impoundment and possible euthanasia regardless of breed.
Minnehaha County Vicious Animal Declaration Rule
Significant RestrictionsMinnehaha County Animal Control Ordinance MC52-17, § 3.04
3.04 VICIOUS ANIMAL. (A) An animal may be declared to be vicious by an Animal Control Officer, by the attending physician of the victim of an animal bite or scratch, or by a Court of competent jurisdiction, giving consideration the following guidelines: (1) An animal which, in a vicious or terrifying manner, approaches in apparent attitude of attack, or bites, inflicts injury, assaults or other...
Exotic Pets
Minnehaha County bans keeping exotic animals such as big cats, venomous snakes, wolves, coyotes, bears, and non-human primates, except animals lawfully kept before the ordinance took effect, which had to be registered with Animal Control within ninety days. Circuses and licensed exhibits get a limited-time exception.
Minnehaha County Exotic Animal Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsMinnehaha County Animal Control Ordinance MC52-17, § 3.08(A)
3.08 EXOTIC ANIMALS - PROHIBITED. (A) No exotic animal as defined by this ordinance may be housed or kept except for those legally within the County at the time of the adoption of this ordinance. Any exotic animals that are housed or kept prior to the effective date of this ordinance must be registered with the Animal Control Officer within ninety days subsequent to the adoption of this ordinan...
Pet Limits
In a Residential Development Area, a household cannot keep more than a combined total of four dogs, cats, or potbellied pigs over six months old. The cap combines all three species together rather than allowing four of each.
Minnehaha County Pet Limit: Four Animals Max
Some RestrictionsMinnehaha County Animal Control Ordinance MC52-17, § 3.07(A)
3.07 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA - FURTHER LIMITATIONS. The following limitations shall apply in a Residential Development Area: (A) It is unlawful for any person to have or to keep more than a combined total of four (4) dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cats (Felis silvestris) or potbellied pigs over the age of six months.
Animal Ordinances by City in Minnehaha County
1 cities in Minnehaha County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Minnehaha County ordinances
See every category we cover for Minnehaha County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Minnehaha County Ordinance Hub →