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Appeal over Bismarck backyard-chicken proposal fails as split commission vote leaves ordinance undecided

Board of City Commissioners · October 14, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

After two Planning & Zoning meetings and stakeholder work, an appeal seeking to advance a zoning-text amendment allowing backyard chickens failed on a split roll call; commissioners cited fire-risk and enforcement concerns while proponents argued property-rights and peer-city experience.

A bid to move forward with a zoning-text amendment allowing residents to keep chickens inside Bismarck city limits failed to gain the votes needed on Oct. 14.

Planning staff and a stakeholder committee drafted a proposed ordinance after meetings with local experts and representatives. Commissioner Scott Risch appealed the Planning & Zoning Commission’s earlier 6–4 denial and asked the City…

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