ND SB2345

Amends North Dakota Century Code sections governing animal feeding operations and zoning regulations for counties and townships, establishing definitions, animal unit calculations, and setback distance standards.

Prohibits counties and townships from blocking animal feeding operations development, restricting reasonable farm/ranch diversification or expansion, or imposing water quality, closure, site security, lagoon, or nutrient plan regulations on animal feeding operations.

Establishes petition and approval process allowing animal feeding operation developers to seek county/township zoning compliance determinations within 60 days, with deemed compliance if no objection is filed.

Requires county/township zoning regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations to be filed with state health or environmental quality department; permits setback variations up to 50 percent from state standards with compelling, objective evidence, subject to agriculture commissioner review upon request.

Mandates department of environmental quality report to legislative management by October 1, 2020, on all animal feeding operation permit applications approved or denied during the 2019-21 biennium, with local governments required to report decisions within 30 days.