Bill > S1026

This bill amends Idaho law to update definitions related to urban agriculture and establish provisions for residential chicken ownership. The bill revises definitions for terms like "community gardening," "market gardening," "urban farming," and "victory gardening," adding nuanced language about agricultural activities and food production. Most significantly, the bill creates new legal protections for homeowners to keep chickens, allowing up to four chickens per two-tenths of an acre on single-family dwellings, regardless of existing deed restrictions or homeowners' association rules. Homeowners' associations can still create reasonable rules about chicken housing, such as prohibiting roosters, but cannot completely ban chicken ownership. The new provisions explicitly do not apply to multi-family housing units or agricultural zones where existing regulations already address poultry keeping. The bill will go into effect on July 1, 2025, and is designed to support small-scale, residential urban agriculture by giving homeowners more flexibility in raising chickens for personal use or food production.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

Agricultural Affairs Committee (S)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/S1026/