General County Ordinances are listed below, sortable by number, date of adoption, title, and description. The list is also searchable through the box in the top right. Ordinances can be viewed by clicking on the title.
Descriptions provided for County Ordinances are unofficial informational summaries only, and not considered an official part of the ordinance text.
For Ordinances related to land use or other subjects within the authority of the Land and Resource Management department, please visit the Land Use Ordinances page here.
For questions about historical ordinances not listed here, contact the County Administrator’s Office.
| Number | Date | Ordinance Title | Ordinance Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202401 | 01/16/2024 | Ordinance 202401 Establishing the Pope County Housing Trust Fund | Ordinance No. 202401 provides the County with additional tools to support the rehabilitation and preservation of existing affordable housing within the County, promotes the development of affordable and workforce housing within the County, and may assist individuals with rental and down payment assistance through the establishment of a Pope County Trust Fund Account, to be maintained by the Pope County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – Economic Development Authority (the “HRA-EDA”). By ordinance, funds received by the HRA-EDA on behalf of the Trust Fund would be deposited in the Trust Fund Account. |
| 201803 | 12/26/2018 | Ordinance 201803 E911 Rural Addressing Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201803 has the purpose to assure that every structure in Pope County is assigned an address that reflects a known location, in order to provide emergency services to all persons in Pope County, regardless of place of residence or location. The regulations shall apply to the naming of all roads and the addressing of all structures and parcels within Pope County. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201101. |
| 201802 | 12/07/2018 | Ordinance 201802 Tobacco Licensing and Regulation Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201802 is intended to regulate the sale of tobacco, tobacco related devices, electronic delivery devices, or nicotine and lobelia delivery products for the purpose of enforcing and furthering existing laws and state mandates; this ordinance is intended to protect youth and young adults against the serious effects with the use of these products, and specifically prohibiting sales of such products to those under 21 years of age. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201601. |
| 201801 | 11/20/2018 | Ordinance 201801 Food and Beverage Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201801 has the purpose of establishing standards for all food and beverage service establishment and to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of Pope County. |
| 202301 | 10/03/2023 | Ordinance 202301 Prohibiting the Establishment of New Uses or Expanded Uses Related to Cannabis | Ordinance No. 202301 is an emergency interim ordinance prohibiting the establishment of new uses or the expansion of existing uses related to sales, testing, manufacturing and distribution of cannabis products in Pope County. The ordinance authorizes and directs a staff study and development of recommendations on regulatory issues related to the subject of the ordinance; places a moratorium on new uses or expanded existing uses related to cannabis products in the County and prohibits issuance of related licenses; provides means of criminal and civil enforcement of the ordinance; declares the ordinance's provisions severable; and establishes an effective start date upon approval with certain exceptions and an end date in accordance with law. This Ordinance expired on its own terms as of January 1, 2025, replaced by the provisions of Ordinance No. 202405 regulating cannabis businesses and events in Pope County, and the Pope County Land Use Controls Ordinance (LUCO) as amended. |
| 201602 | 06/21/2016 | Ordinance 201602 Regulating the Use of Electronic Delivery Devices | Ordinance No. 201602 intended to regulate electronic delivery devices, commonly known as electronic or e-cigarettes, that closely resemble and purposefully mimic the act of smoking, due to concerns with their delivery of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals, producing a vapor of undetermined and potentially harmful substances, and their use in workplaces and public places otherwise prohibiting smoking creates concern and confusion in enforcing smoking prohibitions. |
| 201601 | 06/21/2016 | Ordinance 201601 Tobacco Licensing & Regulation Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201601 is intended to regulate the sale of tobacco, tobacco related devices, electronic delivery devices, or nicotine and lobelia delivery products for the purpose of enforcing and furthering existing laws and state mandates; this ordinance is intended to protect youth and young adults against the serious effects with the use of these products. See Ordinance No. 201802 superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201601. |
| 201505 | 07/07/2015 | Ordinance 201505 Youth Camp Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201505 is intended to establish standards for all youth camps and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Pope County, by providing a minimum standard for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of youth camps, correct and prevent adverse conditions, meet expectations for quality and safety, establish inspection requirements and procedures, and comply with Minnesota Department of Health delegated agreements. |
| 201504 | 07/07/2015 | Ordinance 201504 Public Swimming Pool Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201504 is intended to establish standards for all public swimming pools and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Pope County, by providing a minimum standard for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of public swimming pools, correct and prevent adverse conditions, meet expectations for quality and safety, establish inspection requirements and procedures, and comply with Minnesota Department of Health delegated agreements. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201003. |
| 201503 | 07/07/2015 | Ordinance 201503 Manufactured Home Park, Recreational Camping & Special Event Recreational Camping Area Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201503 is intended to establish standards for all manufactured home parks, recreational camping, and special event camping, and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Pope County, by providing a minimum standard for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of manufactured home parks, recreational camping, and special event camping areas; correct and prevent adverse conditions; meet expectations for quality and safety; establish inspection requirements and procedures; and comply with Minnesota Department of Health delegated agreements. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201002. |
| 201502 | 07/07/2015 | Ordinance 201502 Lodging Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201502 is intended to establish standards for all lodging establishments and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Pope County, by providing a minimum standard for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of lodging establishments, correct and prevent adverse conditions, meet expectations for quality and safety, establish inspection requirements and procedures, and comply with Minnesota Department of Health delegated agreements. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201005. |
| 201501 | 07/07/2015 | Ordinance 201501 Food and Beverage Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201501 is intended to establish standards for all food and beverage service establishments and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Pope County, by preventing food-borne illness, providing a minimum standard for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of food and beverage service establishments, correct and prevent adverse conditions, meet expectations for quality and safety, establish inspection requirements and procedures, and comply with Minnesota Department of Health delegated agreements. Supersedes provisions of Ordinance No. 201004. |
| 201402 | 05/06/2014 | Ordinance 201402 Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201402 is intended to provide minimum standards for and regulation of subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS) and septage disposal including the proper location, design, and construction; their necessary modification and reconstruction; their operation, maintenance, and repair to protect surface water and groundwater from contamination by human sewage and waterborne household and commercial wastes; to protect the public's health and safety, and eliminate or prevent the development of public nuisances pursuant to the authority granted under Minnesota Statutes and Rules pertaining to sewage and wastewater treatment. |
| 201401 | 05/06/2014 | Ordinance 201401 Water Surface Use Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201401 is intended to control and regulate the use of all the waters of Pope County, Minnesota, said bodies of water being located entirely within the boundaries of Pope County, to promote its fullest use and enjoyment by the public in general and the citizens of Pope County in particular; to insure safety for persons and property in connection with the use of said waters, to harmonize and integrate the varying uses of said waters; and to promote the general health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pope County, Minnesota. |
| 201303 | 07/16/2013 | Ordinance 201303 Temporary Special Controls Water Surface Use Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201303 addressed water surface uses due to extraordinary weather conditions, including excessive rainfall during the spring of 2013. Expired on its own terms on December 31, 2013, and the subject was later addressed by Ordinance No. 201401. |
| 201302 | 06/18/2013 | Ordinance 201302 Open Burning Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201302 has the purpose of regulating open burning within the County of Pope, to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and authorizes a Designated Fire Official to adopt and impose burning restrictions to aid in the prevention of wildfire in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Forestry. |
| 201301 | 06/18/2013 | Ordinance 201301 Establishing Assessments for the Clearwater Bay Subordinate Service District | Ordinance No. 201301 provides for regulation of the use of wastewater collection and treatment service facilities within the Clearwater Bay Subordinate Service District of Pope County, establish bonding, procurement, cost recovery, and maintenance and operation charge provisions applicable to the District. |
| 201101 | 08/05/2014 | Ordinance 201101 E911 Rural Addressing Ordinance As Amended | Ordinance No. 201101 assures that every structure in Pope County is assigned an address that reflects a known location, in order to provide emergency services to all persons in Pope County, regardless of place of residence or location, by complying with certain addressing guidelines and applying guidelines to the naming of all roads and the addressing of all structures and parcels within Pope County. See Ordinance No. 201803 superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201101. |
| 201005 | 05/18/2010 | Ordinance 201005 Lodging Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201005 regulated lodging establishments in Pope County until 2015. See Ordinance No. 201502 superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201005. |
| 201004 | 05/18/2010 | Ordinance 201004 Food Manager Certification Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201004 regulated food manager certification in Pope County until 2015. See Ordinance No. 201501 on food and beverage establishments superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201004. |
| 201003 | 05/18/2010 | Ordinance 201003 Public Swimming Pool Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201003 regulated public swimming pools in Pope County until 2015. See Ordinance No. 201504 superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201003. |
| 201002 | 05/18/2010 | Ordinance 201002 Manufactured Home Park, Recreational Camping Area, and Special Event Rec Camping Area Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201002 regulated manufactured home parks, recreational camping areas, and special event recreational camping areas in Pope County until 2015. See Ordinance No. 201503 superseding provisions of Ordinance No. 201002. |
| 201001 | 05/18/2010 | Ordinance 201001 Environmental Health Administrative Ordinance | Ordinance No. 201001 establishes procedures for administering Minnesota public health laws covered by delegation agreements where separate procedures are not established by such agreements, and where these procedures are consistent with State Law. |
| 202300 | 07/04/2023 | Ordinance 2023 Pope County Solid Waste Designation Ordinance | This Ordinance regulates the transportation and delivery of solid waste generated within the county; defines the geographic area and the types and quantities of solid waste subject to designation; specifies points of delivery of the waste; requires acceptable waste be delivered to the designated facility; excepts from the requirements certain types of solid waste materials, and enacts additional regulations governing the hauling of waste and other matters. |
| 202402 | 04/02/2024 | Ordinance 202402 Regulating the Use of Cannabis in Public Places and Prohibiting Use by Those Under the Age of 21 | Ordinance No. 202402 regulates the use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products in public places and prohibits the recreational use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products by those under the age of 21. In accordance with recent state legislation, local governments may regulate certain uses of cannabis and related products in public places and as otherwise allowed by statute. The ordinance prohibits the use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products in public places; prohibits the smoking or vaping of cannabis or other derived or similar products in a location where inhalation of a minor may occur; and prohibits recreational use of cannabis or other derived or similar products by those under the age of 21. The ordinance defines the penalty for violation as a petty misdemeanor, a fine-only penalty not to exceed $300 in accordance with law. |
| 202403 | 04/02/2024 | Ordinance 202403 Regulating Dangerous, At-Large, and Nuisance Animals in Pope County | Ordinance No. 202403 regulates dangerous, at-large, and nuisance dogs, domestic animals, and prohibited animals in the County. The ordinance declares dogs and domestic and prohibited animals running at large without permission on the property of another to be unlawful; defines procedures and powers related to the designation of dangerous dogs and animals; allows for the declaration of dogs and other domestic or prohibited animals to be nuisances when running at large, exhibiting dangerous propensities, disturbing the peace, producing uncontrolled waste, menacing, attacking, or biting; and provides for the impoundment, enclosure, and claim procedure for seized animals. The ordinance defines the penalty for its violation as a misdemeanor, and also allows for other statutory and taxation of cost remedies to be pursued for violations. |
| 202404 | 04/02/2024 | Ordinance 202404 Repealing Outdated Provisions of the Pope County Environmental Health Administrative Ordinance | Ordinance No. 202404 specifically repeals Ordinance No. 201001, adopted May 18, 2010, which addressed licensure and fees regulating certain activities under the authority of public health offices under Minnesota laws and rules, where separate procedures are not established by delegation agreements with the State of Minnesota. Specific public health licenses and fees are now addressed elsewhere in Ordinance Nos. 201501, 201502, 201503, 201504, and 201505, and public health officials advised no further need for the remaining provisions of Ordinance No. 201001. |
| 202405 | 12/03/2024 | Ordinance 202405 Regulating Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County | Ordinance No. 202405 provides for the regulation of cannabis businesses and events in Pope County the manner local governments are allowed by Minnesota Statutes; and establishes and defines registration processes for cannabis businesses and sets certain requirements and limitations for operation of cannabis businesses and events. |
| 202501 | 09/02/2025 | Ordinance 202501 Regulating Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County | Ordinance No. 202501 specifically provides for the regulation of cannabis businesses and events in Pope County in the manner local governments are allowed by Minnesota Statutes; establishes and defines registration processes for cannabis businesses; and sets certain requirements and limitations for operation of cannabis businesses and events. Ordinance No. 202501 requires a valid state license in order to submit a registration application and is otherwise substantively unchanged from the provisions of Ordinance No. 202405, which was repealed by adoption of Ordinance No. 202501 upon its effective date. |
| 202601 | 01/20/2026 | Ordinance 202601 Retaining Firearms Limitations for Deer Hunting in Pope County | Ordinance No. 202601 retains the existing firearm limitations in place for deer hunting in Pope County as they were in place for the 2025 season and prior seasons. Ordinance No. 202601 continues to limit the types of firearms that can be legally used for deer hunting in Pope County to those allowed by state law during the 2025 firearms deer hunting season, including legal shotguns (with or without rifled barrels) loaded with single-slug shotgun shells, legal muzzle-loading long guns, and legal handguns. The ordinance continues to prohibit the use of other firearms, such as rifles, that have been prohibited during the firearms deer hunting season in Pope County to date through 2025. Violations of the ordinance are a misdemeanor and punishable in that manner under law. The ordinance is effective as of the date of passage and publication in accordance with law, and is effective for the 2026 firearms deer hunting season and for future seasons unless amended or repealed. |