Dan King
Dan King · July 24, 2024
The City/County Administrative Building is seen in Bismarck, ND. Photo credit: Andrew Filer.

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BISMARCK, N.D.—Last night, the Bismarck Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to pass Ordinance 6583, which will make it easier for home-based business owners to earn an honest living in the city. City entrepreneurs and home business experts from the Institute for Justice (IJ), who worked closely with city officials on the ordinance, applaud the ordinance’s passage. 

“Everybody deserves the opportunity to earn an honest living, and for some people, the best way to do so is by starting a home-based business. But in too many cities across the country, we’ve seen how local regulations can prevent entrepreneurs from getting their businesses off the ground,” said IJ Activism Associate Ellen Hamlett. “We applaud Bismarck officials for implementing the needed reforms to ensure home businesses can thrive, while still ensuring public safety and protecting against nuisances.” 

IJ, which has advocated for entrepreneurs around the country for 30 years, was alerted about the proposed home business ordinance by Bismarck entrepreneurs in the spring. On May 15, IJ submitted public comments suggesting amending the ordinance to allow home businesses to hire additional outside employees. The Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission then implemented the amendment before the ordinance went to the City Commission. 

“Home-based businesses are a vital part of the American economy, which is why it is so crucial other cities follow in Bismarck’s footsteps to create a regulatory framework that allows these businesses to succeed,” said IJ Cities Work Director Jennifer McDonald. “Some of America’s biggest companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Disney, were started from home.”  

According to the most recent census data, the United States is home to more than 15 million home-based businesses, which constitute about half of the country’s small businesses. Furthermore, home businesses make up a quarter of small businesses that have employees, showing that these businesses lead to growth and job creation. 

Through its “Cities Work” initiative, IJ has partnered with leaders in local governments across the country to make it cheaper, faster, and simpler to start businesses by identifying and rectifying regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. Cities Work is funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.