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Commissioners adopt updated livestock ordinance tightening permitting and inspection rules
Summary
Adams County commissioners approved Ordinance 2025-12, an amendment to Article 2 Chapter 16 that adds a definition for earthen lagoons, restores inspection authority, clarifies inactive-operation permitting rules and sets setback rules tied to IDEM permits.
The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2025-12, revisions to the county land-use regulations for livestock operations that add definitions, restore inspection authority and change setback requirements tied to state-permitted facilities.
County attorney Mark presented the planning commission’s unanimous 7–0 recommendation and summarized the primary changes included in the ordinance, titled “ordinance 2025-12.” The amendment adds a definition for “earthen lagoon or open earthen pit,” restores a previously removed provision allowing planning staff and agents to inspect proposed operations at application and permits inspections, and clarifies that operations inactive for 12 consecutive months are considered closed and must be re-permitted.
The ordinance also reorganizes setback rules into chart form. For IDEM-permitted intensive livestock operations the setback from a neighboring residence is set at 600 feet; county-regulated intensive operations retain a larger setback of 1,320 feet. County staff told commissioners the reduced setback for IDEM-permitted facilities is intended to encourage owners who cannot meet the larger 1,320-foot buffer to seek IDEM permitting, which brings stricter manure-management and monitoring requirements.
Commissioners requested confirmation of the rule distinctions on the record; the county attorney confirmed the planning commission reviewed the draft across multiple meetings and recommended the changes. A motion to adopt Ordinance 2025-12 carried unanimously; commissioners directed staff to forward the ordinance for publication and record-keeping.
