Dakota County, MN Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Drones only in established designated areas
- Governing section
- Ordinance 107, Sec. 4.4
- No SUP alternative stated
- Unlike manned aviation clause
- Enforcement
- Park staff and law enforcement
- Penalty basis
- Minn. Stat. § 398.34
Summary
Dakota County Ordinance No. 107 confines unmanned aerial vehicles to established, designated areas within county parks, grouping drones with aircraft, hot air balloons, and parachutes under the ordinance's Aviation section.
Section 4.4 - Aviation
Aviation takeoffs or landings, including aircraft, hot air balloons, parachutes, hang gliders, or other flying apparatus, are only allowed in a Dakota County park with a Special Use Permit.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) may only be used in established designated areas.
Full Breakdown
4, titled Aviation, addresses two categories of flight inside Dakota County Parks. The first covers manned aviation: takeoffs or landings by aircraft, hot air balloons, parachutes, hang gliders, or other flying apparatus, which the ordinance allows only with a Special Use Permit issued by the Parks Department. ' Unlike the manned-aviation clause, the drone rule does not reference a Special Use Permit as an alternate path to compliance; the only stated basis for flying a drone in a county park is that the specific location has been established and designated for that purpose by Dakota County Parks.
Because the Park Ordinance applies specifically to county park property under Chapter 4 (Public Health, Safety, and Conduct), this designated-area rule governs recreational and hobbyist drone flights on park land; it does not purport to regulate drone flight over private property or public rights-of-way elsewhere in unincorporated Dakota County, which falls under FAA airspace rules and any applicable state law rather than this park ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Flying a drone outside an established designated area is enforceable the same way as other Park Ordinance violations: designated Park employees can direct the operator to leave, and law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the park can cite the violation. Section 8.2 ties penalties for any Park Ordinance violation to Minn. Stat. § 398.34. A violation can also mean losing park privileges and ejection for at least 24 hours, with repeat or serious violations escalating to a full park trespass order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone anywhere in a Dakota County park?
Can I get a permit to fly a drone anywhere in the park like I could for a hot air balloon?
What happens if I fly a drone in a restricted park area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dakota County
Compare Dakota County to another location·View the Minnesota drone rules overview
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