HF4295

HF4295 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

County authorized to approve up to 24 chickens on any lot by ordinance.

Related bill: SF4547

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill aims to give counties more authority to regulate feedlot-related use and to allow small-scale poultry (up to 24 chickens) on any lot through local ordinances. It also creates a formal process for state agencies to review and comment on environmental, agricultural, and economic impacts of proposed feedlot ordinances.

Main provisions

Notification at the start: A county proposing to adopt or amend a feedlot ordinance must notify the Pollution Control Agency (PCA) and the commissioner of agriculture no later than the first hearing.
State agency review before final approval: Before final approval, the county board may send the proposed ordinance to the PCA and the commissioner of agriculture to request review comments and recommendations on environmental and agricultural effects.
Agency justification and recommendations: The agencies’ response may include recommendations for improvements and the justification for each recommendation, covering legal, social, economic, or scientific reasons.
Economic effects analysis: At the county’s request, the county must prepare a report on the economic effects of specific provisions, describing how the ordinance could affect the local economy and which businesses might be affected.
Economic-effect template: The commissioner of agriculture, with the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), must develop a template for measuring local economic effects and provide it to the county. The economic report, along with the proposed ordinance, must be submitted to the relevant state commissioners.
Setback provisions for feedlots and residences: If a local ordinance includes a setback for new feedlots from existing residences, it must also provide for a corresponding residence setback from existing feedlots located in areas zoned agricultural, using the same distances and conditions, unless the new residence replaces an existing one. A county may grant a variance from this requirement.
Poultry allowance: Notwithstanding current setback requirements for animal feedlots under Minnesota Rules 7020 and part 4725.4450, a local ordinance may approve up to 24 chickens on any lot.

Significant changes to existing law

Allows local ordinances to authorize keeping up to 24 chickens on any lot, overriding existing setback rules in Minnesota Rules 7020 and part 4725.4450.
Introduces a formal, multi-step process requiring local governments to engage state agencies (PCA and the commissioner of agriculture) early and provide an economic effects analysis with a state-generated template.
Requires alignment of residence setbacks with feedlot setbacks in agricultural zones, unless replacing an existing residence, and permits variances from this rule.

Who and what is affected

Local governments (counties) that regulate feedlots and poultry on lots.
State agencies: Pollution Control Agency and the commissioner of agriculture.
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which helps develop the economic-effects template.
Local residents and businesses near feedlots or poultry operations, as well as agricultural zones.

Practical implications

Counties considering feedlot ordinances will need to engage state agencies early and may have to prepare an economic impact report.
Communities could permit up to 24 chickens on any lot, subject to county rules, regardless of some existing setback standards.
Setback rules for new feedlots and nearby residences in agricultural zones may be adjusted to mirror each other, with potential variances available.

Potential outcomes to watch

How the early agency input influences local ordinance language and safeguards.
The content and impact of the economic-effects template on local decision-making.
Local adoption of up to 24 chickens on any lot and how it interacts with existing zoning and environmental considerations.

Relevant Terms feedlot ordinance local ordinance county board Pollution Control Agency (PCA) commissioner of agriculture Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) economic effects / local economic effects template for measuring local economic effects environmental effects agricultural effects setback residence setback agricultural zoning Minnesota Rules 7020 part 4725.4450 24 chickens on any lot variance (394.27 subdivision 7) first hearing / notice environmental review agricultural review economic analysis proposed ordinance

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file

Upcoming committee meetings

Elections Finance and Government Operations on: March 23, 2026 13:00

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 16, 2026	House		Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Elections Finance and Government Operations

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A county proposing to adopt a new feedlot ordinance or amend an existing feedlot ordinance must notify the Pollution Control Agency and the commissioner of agriculture at the beginning of the process no later than the notice of the first hearing proposing to adopt or amend an ordinance purporting to address feedlots.",
        "Prior to final approval of a feedlot ordinance a county board may submit a copy of the proposed ordinance to the Pollution Control Agency and to the commissioner of agriculture and request review comment and recommendations on the environmental and agricultural effects from specific provisions in the ordinance.",
        "The agencies' response to the county may include any recommendations for improvements in the ordinance and the legal, social, economic, or scientific justification for each recommendation.",
        "At the request of the county board the county must prepare a report on the economic effects from specific provisions in the ordinance, including whether the ordinance will affect the local economy and the kinds of businesses affected, with a template for measuring local economic effects developed by the commissioner of agriculture in cooperation with the Department of Employment and Economic Development.",
        "The economic-effects report must be submitted to the commissioners of Employment and Economic Development and Agriculture along with the proposed ordinance.",
        "The report requirements and template are intended to assist the county in assessing local economic impacts of the ordinance.",
        "A local ordinance that contains a setback for new feedlots from existing residences must also provide for a new residence setback from existing feedlots located in areas zoned agricultural at the same distances and conditions specified in the setback for new feedlots unless the new residence is built to replace an existing residence.",
        "A county may grant a variance from this requirement under section 394.27 subdivision 7.",
        "Notwithstanding setback requirements for animal feedlots under Minnesota Rules chapter 7020 and part 4725.4450 a local ordinance may approve up to 24 chickens on any lot."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 394.25, subdivision 3c, to establish procedural requirements for counties adopting or amending feedlot ordinances and to permit local control over small-scale poultry (up to 24 chickens) on any lot, along with related setback and review provisions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "394.25",
    "subdivision": "3c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Cross-reference to permit a variance from the setback requirement under section 394.27 subdivision 7."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill cross-references existing law to allow a variance from the setback requirements for feedlot-related provisions described in section 394.25 subdivision 3c.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "394.27",
    "subdivision": "7"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%

In Committee