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1. How do I obtain a permit to carry a firearm in public?

Visit Obtain a Permit to Carry a Firearm in Public.

2. How do I obtain a permit to purchase a firearm?

The law regarding obtaining a permit to purchase a handgun has not changed. To obtain a permit to purchase a handgun you must apply at the Sheriff's Office Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. You must be 21 years of age, a resident of Rice County and have a Minnesota drivers license confirming your Rice County address. The permit will be processed within seven days from the time you make application. The criminal history of each applicant is checked. A record of conviction for certain crimes will be cause for denial of a permit.

To obtain an application for the permit, visit the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

3. What if I have a hunter, snowmobile or ATV trespassing on my property?

Trespass is the most frequent complaint landowners have against the recreational public. Always ask permission before entering private land. Those who are trespassing are guilty of a misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines up to $1000 and a jail sentence of 90 days. If a landowner has a problem with people trespassing on their land, all they need to do is to call our office and a deputy or game warden will respond to investigate the complaint. To contact non-emergency 24 Hour Dispatch Sheriff, please call 507-334-4391, or Toll-Free 866-727-5299.

4. What rules govern the use of ATV in Rice County?

The use of ATVs in Rice County is governed by Minnesota State Statute.

84.928 Operation Requirements; Local Regulation.
Subdivision 1. Operation on roads and rights-of-way; class 1 vehicles.
...(g)A person shall not operate a class 1 all-terrain vehicle within the public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway from April 1 to August 1 in the agricultural zone unless the vehicle is being used exclusively as transportation to and from work on agricultural lands....
To read the full statute, please visit The Office of the Revisor of Statutes.