Minnesota Counties

Function

There are 87 counties in Minnesota. Each county is responsible for property tax assessment, tax administration, elections, record keeping, transportation, planning and zoning, solid waste management, environment, parks and water management, law enforcement, courts, and health and human services. Even though counties do not have specific legal authority over our project development process, it is in the counties’ and the state’s best interest to coordinate efforts cooperatively. Issues concerning transit, bikeways/pedestrian ways, project environmental documents, and parks may necessitate coordination with the county, although the counties are usually interested in all aspects of a project. The state must obtain approval from the County Engineer for a County Ditch Permit in areas where watershed districts or watershed management organizations do not have authority.