Bill > H0404

This bill amends Idaho state law to establish clear guidelines for residential chicken ownership, essentially protecting homeowners' rights to keep chickens in certain residential settings. The legislation defines "chickens" as domesticated fowl raised for personal egg or meat production and explicitly prevents homeowners' associations and deed restrictions from entirely prohibiting chicken ownership. Homeowners' associations may create reasonable rules about chicken housing, such as managing manure and odor or restricting roosters, but cannot impose undue burdens. The bill applies only to single-family dwellings on lots of at least one-quarter acre, does not cover multi-family units, and explicitly does not interfere with existing agricultural or rural zoning regulations. Chicken owners are responsible for understanding chicken health, disease management, and related liabilities. While the bill provides broad protections for chicken ownership, it also stipulates that local city and county ordinances will take precedence over these state-level provisions. The law is set to go into effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the legislation is found invalid, the rest of the bill remains in force.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Ways and Means Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0404/