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Bill Summary · SF 4547

Summary of SF 4547 (Minnesota) – 2025-2026 Session

Overview

SF 4547 proposes granting counties in Minnesota the authority to permit residents to keep up to 24 chickens on any parcel of land through county ordinance. The bill sets a framework for how counties would authorize and regulate chicken keeping, replacing or supplementing current local control in some jurisdictions. The action history indicates introduction and referral to the State and Local Government committee on March 18, 2026. The listed sponsors include co-sponsors Mike Holmstrom, John Hoffman, and Jim Abeler.

Purpose and Policy Intent

  • Establish a statewide pathway for counties to authorize the keeping of poultry (specifically chickens) on residential lots by ordinance.
  • Provide a clear maximum cap (up to 24 chickens) to standardize expectations and reduce potential disputes related to poultry density.
  • Shift or clarify regulatory authority from potentially fragmented local practices to a county-level framework, enabling consistent permitting and oversight within counties that choose to adopt the authority.

Key Provisions (as inferred from the bill title and typical structure)

  • Authorization by County Ordinance: Counties would have the power to adopt ordinances allowing residents to keep chickens on any lot, subject to the stated cap.
  • Cap on Chickens: The maximum number permitted on a single lot would be up to 24 chickens. The bill may include how to determine eligibility based on lot size, zoning, or other factors (these specifics would typically be defined in the enacted ordinance or subsequent administrative guidance).
  • Administrative Process: Counties would establish the permitting or registration process for residents who want to keep chickens (e.g., application requirements, fees, inspection provisions, and renewal intervals).
  • Standards and Compliance: The ordinances may include setbacks, housing requirements (coop standards), sanitation and health guidelines, odor management, waste disposal, pest control, and measures to ensure animal welfare.
  • Enforcement: Provisions for enforcement, penalties for noncompliance, revocation of permits, and any remedies for neighboring residents or public health concerns.
  • Opt-in/Local Authority: Counties not electing to adopt the ordinance would presumably continue to be governed by existing state law and local policies without this county-level authorization.

Who Is Affected

  • County governments: Authorized to enact ordinances permitting up to 24 chickens on residential lots and to administer any permitting, inspections, and enforcement.
  • Residents within counties that adopt the ordinance: Would be able to apply for permits to keep up to 24 chickens on their lot, subject to compliance with the county’s standards.
  • Local residents in counties that do not adopt the authorization: Remain governed by existing state and local regulations concerning poultry keeping; no change expected.
  • Potential impacts on neighbors and households: Increased backyard poultry options may affect noise, odor, sanitation, and animal welfare considerations; governed by county rules and enforcement.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

  • Introduction and First Reading: March 18, 2026.
  • Referral: State and Local Government committee (March 18, 2026).
  • Next steps would typically include committee discussion, potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in the Minnesota Legislature, followed by potential reconciliation with the other chamber (if applicable) and eventual passage to the governor for signature. Specific implementation timelines (e.g., effective date after passage) are not provided in the short summary but would usually be detailed within the enacted statute or accompanying fiscal notes.

Notes

  • The summary reflects available information from the bill title and introductory action history. Details such as specific eligibility criteria (lot size, zoning compatibility), permit fees, inspection schedules, setback distances, coop construction standards, and enforcement mechanisms would be defined in the enacted text of the county ordinances or in subsequent implementing guidance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to focus on a specific county’s likely requirements or compare it with existing state/local poultry regulations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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