Minnesota Ordinances (2026)

Minnesota Statute 343.21 establishes statewide animal cruelty offenses including overworking, depriving food or water, and torture. Hoarding cases are prosecuted as cruelty and apply to every owner regardless of city or county boundaries.

Minnesota Statute 346.155 prohibits private possession of regulated animals including big cats, bears, and non-human primates. The law preempts conflicting local rules and applies uniformly statewide, with grandfather provisions for animals owned before 2005.

Minnesota Statute 97B.106 restricts deer feeding statewide in counties affected by chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis. DNR rules supplement the law and apply uniformly across municipal boundaries within designated zones.

Minnesota's Shoreland Management Act establishes statewide minimum structure setbacks from public waters. Local governments must adopt ordinances at least as restrictive as state standards in Minn. Rules 6120.3300, applied uniformly to lakes and rivers.

Minnesota Statutes section 342.13 limits how cities and counties may regulate cannabis businesses. Local governments cannot prohibit licensed cannabis retailers but may impose reasonable zoning, buffer, and operational requirements consistent with the Office of Cannabis Management.

Minnesota Statutes section 342.09 allows adults 21 and older to cultivate up to eight cannabis plants per residence, with no more than four mature, statewide. Cities cannot prohibit personal home cultivation by qualifying adults.

Commercial drone operators in Minnesota must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with both the FAA and the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics under Minn. Stat. 360.55, paying state aircraft registration tax annually.

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 360 classifies unmanned aircraft as aircraft subject to FAA regulation and state aeronautics rules. The Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics governs registration and operation, preempting most local airspace ordinances.

Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act in Minn. Stat. chapter 177 sets the state minimum wage but does not preempt local wage ordinances, allowing Minneapolis and Saint Paul to enforce higher local minimums.

Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law in Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 provides statewide accrual rights, while a separate state Paid Leave program under chapter 268B begins benefit payments in 2026.

Minnesota does not preempt local scheduling laws, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce predictive scheduling and wage theft ordinances on top of state wage standards in chapter 177.

MPCA's NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit, authorized under Minn. Stat. Ch. 115, applies statewide to land-disturbing activities of one acre or more, requiring SWPPPs, BMPs, and inspection regardless of which city issues the building permit.

Minnesota Statutes sections 103F.101 to 103F.155 require all communities with mapped flood hazard areas to adopt DNR-approved floodplain ordinances meeting state and FEMA NFIP minimums, governing development, fill, and structure elevation.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the federal NPDES MS4 general permit under Minn. Stat. Ch. 115. Regulated cities and counties must adopt construction, post-construction, and illicit discharge controls meeting statewide minimum measures.

Minnesota State Building Code adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with state amendments, setting uniform pool barrier rules statewide. Local governments cannot adopt weaker standards, ensuring consistent fencing, gate, and entrapment protections.

Minnesota state law permits only non-aerial, non-explosive consumer fireworks like sparklers, cones, and fountains. Aerial fireworks, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles are illegal statewide regardless of local ordinance.

Minnesota law requires a DNR-issued burning permit for most outdoor open burning when ground is not snow-covered. Burning prohibited materials like garbage, plastics, and treated wood is illegal statewide regardless of permit status.

Minnesota adopts NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code through the State Fire Code under Minn. Stat. 299F.011. Propane container placement, separation distances, and storage rules apply uniformly statewide and cannot be relaxed by cities.

Minnesota DNR designates statewide and regional wildfire restriction zones during elevated fire danger, suspending all burning permits. Restrictions apply uniformly within designated zones regardless of city or county boundaries.

Minnesota issues permits to carry pistols under the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act, codified at Minn. Stat. 624.714, with sheriffs administering shall-issue permitting for qualified applicants.

Minnesota statute 471.633 broadly preempts local firearms regulation, reserving authority over the lawful sale, transfer, possession, carrying, transportation, storage, and use of firearms to the state legislature.

Minnesota law treats open carry of a pistol the same as concealed carry, requiring a permit under Minn. Stat. 624.714, while long-gun open carry is generally lawful absent local discharge or trespass issues.

Minnesota requires a permit to carry a pistol on or about the person or in a vehicle under Minn. Stat. 624.714, with state preemption barring stricter local rules under Minn. Stat. 471.633.

Minnesota Statute 157.16 requires every mobile food unit to be licensed by the Department of Health or Department of Agriculture. The state license is portable across cities, though local permits for parking and zoning still apply.

Minnesota Statutes section 28A.152 establishes the statewide cottage food exemption, allowing home producers to sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods directly to consumers after registering with the Department of Agriculture, preempting inconsistent local food rules.

Minnesota Statutes sections 245A.14 and 462.357 require cities to treat licensed family child care homes as a permitted residential use, preempting restrictive zoning. DHS licenses providers statewide under Chapter 245A and Rules 9502 and 9503.

Minnesota does not require private employers to use E-Verify, and the state has not enacted a general E-Verify mandate, leaving federal I-9 verification as the universal standard for hiring.

Minnesota's North Star Act, codified in Minn. Stat. 645.221 and related provisions enacted in 2023, limits state and local agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.

Minnesota requires commercial tree care companies to register annually with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes statewide quarantines on movement of regulated wood, including emerald ash borer firewood, that override conflicting local rules.

Minnesota's Noxious Weed Law requires every landowner, occupant, or maintainer of public land to control state-listed noxious weeds at the time and manner ordered by a county inspector, regardless of city ordinance.

Aircraft noise in Minnesota is governed primarily by federal aviation rules, with state oversight through the Metropolitan Airports Commission and MnDOT airport zoning standards. Local noise ordinances cannot regulate aircraft in flight or on FAA-controlled operations.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sets statewide numerical noise limits for stationary sources under Minn. Rules Chapter 7030. Limits vary by Noise Area Classification and time of day, applying uniformly across the state to industrial and commercial noise.

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 168B governs abandoned vehicle definitions, impoundment, notice requirements, and disposal statewide. Local units of government must follow the procedural framework for towing, lienholder notice, and auction of abandoned motor vehicles.

Minnesota's State Building Code and electrical statutes set baseline standards for EV charging installations. State law also limits HOA restrictions on EV charging, ensuring residents have a uniform statewide right to install charging equipment.

Minnesota Statutes section 471.9996 prohibits cities, counties, and towns from adopting rent control on private residential property unless the ordinance or charter amendment is first approved by voters at a general election.

Minnesota agricultural zoning combines local authority under chapter 394 county planning with state feedlot rules in Minn. Stat. 116.07, while Right to Farm protections in 561.19 limit nuisance challenges.

Minnesota's Right to Farm law in Minn. Stat. 561.19 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when they have operated for at least two years and comply with applicable laws.

Minnesota state law imposes 6.875% sales tax plus applicable local lodging taxes on all short-term rentals under 30 days, including Airbnb and Vrbo bookings. Marketplace providers must collect and remit on hosts' behalf statewide.

Minnesota Statute 211B.045 preempts municipal regulation of noncommercial signs during a defined election window. From 46 days before the state primary through 10 days after the general election, signs of any size and number are protected.

Minnesota previously preempted local plastic bag bans under Minn. Stat. 325E.045, but the legislature repealed that preemption in 2023, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce bag fees and bans.

Minnesota does not impose a statewide polystyrene ban, but with auxiliary container preemption repealed, cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict expanded polystyrene foam food packaging.

Minnesota has no statewide plastic straw ban, but with the 2023 repeal of Minn. Stat. 325E.045 preemption, cities may impose upon-request rules and switch to compostable alternatives.

Minnesota Statute 500.215 voids private covenants that prohibit or unreasonably restrict solar energy systems on residential property. The statute applies statewide and supersedes restrictive HOA declarations and deed restrictions.

Minnesota Statute 462.357 subdivision 1g and 500.30 protect solar access by limiting how cities and HOAs may restrict solar installations. Local permits must focus on safety, not aesthetics, under the statewide solar access framework.

The Minnesota State Building Code requires a 48-inch barrier around residential pools through the adopted ISPSC. The standard applies statewide and supersedes any conflicting local fencing rules that fall below the minimum.

Minnesota Rule 4717 regulates public spas and hot tubs identically to pools, requiring MDH licensure, water testing, and anti-entrapment drains. Residential spas follow ISPSC barrier and electrical rules under the State Building Code.

Minnesota State Building Code adopts ISPSC standards and requires construction permits for residential and public pools statewide. Local jurisdictions enforce the code but cannot adopt less restrictive standards under Minn. Stat. 326B.121.

Minnesota Department of Health rules under Minn. R. Chapter 4717 govern public pool operation including water quality, lifeguarding, and safety equipment. The rules apply uniformly to all licensed public pools statewide.

Minnesota raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and electronic delivery devices to 21 in 2020 through changes tied to Minn. Stat. 461.12 and 609.685, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 requirements.

Minnesota does not impose a statewide flavored tobacco ban, but Minn. Stat. 461.12 authorizes cities and counties to adopt stricter local rules including restrictions on menthol and flavored vape sales.

Minnesota requires a license to sell electronic delivery devices and tobacco products, with cities and counties issuing local licenses under Minn. Stat. 461.12 alongside state regulation of vape product registration.

Minnesota state law bans appliances, electronics, tires, lead-acid batteries, and mercury-containing devices from solid waste disposal. These items must be recycled through approved channels regardless of local bulk pickup rules.

Minnesota law requires commercial buildings in the seven-county metro and large cities to provide recycling, and bans certain materials from landfills statewide. Counties must implement recycling programs meeting state-set diversion goals.

Minnesota's Heritage Tree Program under DNR forestry recognizes notable trees but does not impose statewide removal restrictions on private property. State law primarily governs shade tree disease management and public-land protections through Minn. Stat. 89 and 18G.