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Dakota County Home
Water Resources
 
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​Contact

Environmental Resources
952-891-7000
environ@co.dakota.mn.us  

  • Aquatic Invasive Species
  • Lake Byllesby Dam & Reservoir
  • Shoreland and Floodplain ManagementCurrently selected
  • Groundwater
  • Wells & Drinking Water
  • Septic Systems
  • Stormwater
  • Wetlands
  • Cleanup of Contaminated Sites
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Shoreland and Floodplain Management

Page Content

Person standing in front of a house and out buildings.Through County Ordinance ​50 - Shorel​and and Floodplain Management, the county regulates shoreland and floodplain in the 13 unincorporated townships of Dakota County.

In addition to township permits, county permits are required for:

  • Construction activities
  • Grading and filling
  • Septic system installations
  • Removal of vegetation within 300 feet from rivers and 1,000 feet from lakes, including the Spring Lake on the Mississippi River, the Cannon River, and any land located in floodplain areas

The county has floodplain maps and information for every parcel in the county. The c​ounty can assist you with data interpretation, completing FEMA forms, and answering questions about flood insurance. Please call if you have questions about floodplain on your property.

​ Vegetative buffers with a corn field.Perennial vegetative buffers

Perennial vegetative buffers are required countywide for cultivated land along all Minnesota Department of Natural Resources public waters and county ditches. The buffer width for land along a DNR public water is 50 feet.  The buffer width along public ditches is 16.5 feet. 

Dakota County has two public ditches: County Ditch No. 1 and No. 2. Portions of both are DNR public waters and require a 50-foot buffer.  Ditch laterals along Ditch No. 2 in Waterford and Castle Rock townships are not public waters, and only require a 16.5-foot buffer.

See a map of DNR designated public waters in Dakota County.

Permit applications

For building and zoning permit forms, see the Building & Zoning Permits page.

Homeowner resources

Dakota Soil and Water Conservation Dis​trict
Landscaping for Clean ​W​​ater
Docks and Access on DNR Public Waters
Lakescaping and Shoreland Rest​oration
Restore Your Shore
Riprap

For more information contact Dee McDaniels at dee.mcdaniels@co.dakota.mn.us or 852-891-7024.

Last updated: 12/2/2024 3:55 PM

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  • 1590 Highway 55
  • Hastings, MN 55033
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