Brian C. Balstad
Brian C. Balstad ("Brian") grew up in northern Minnesota. He was active in school and the community. It is through his upbringing he learned the importance of integrity, hard work, and helping others.
As a high school student, Brian attended the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC). While attending UMC, he was named to the Chancellor's 4.0 Club and the Dean's List. After graduating from high school, Brian attended the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of North Dakota (UND) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Minor in Political Science. He was a member of the Public Affairs Club, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a member and officer of Pi Sigma Alpha, an honorary political science fraternity. He was named to the President's Roll of Honor and the Dean's List and received the Arthur P. Anderson Scholarship and the D.J Robertson Academic Award. Further, as an undergraduate student, Brian was admitted to and began successfully completing courses in the Master of Public Administration graduate program at the UND Graduate School. Brian attended law school at the UND School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate. While in law school, he was a member of the Student Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Student Bar Association, and a member and officer of Delta Theta Phi. Further, Brian continued to successfully complete courses in the Master of Public Administration graduate program. After law school, Brian continued his graduate education. He graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the UND Graduate School. He also attended the Graduate School at the University of Florida and graduated with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems. He was a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and American Planning Association.
While attending law school, Brian served as a law clerk with a student limited practice license in North Dakota and Minnesota, and after acquiring his license to practice law, as an attorney for a law firm in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. As a law clerk and attorney, he gained invaluable experience in land use planning and zoning, municipal law, business law, family law, estate planning and probate, and real estate law. The cases ranged from very simple and amicable to very complex and highly contested. After clerking and practicing law for several years, Brian elected to take a sabbatical from the practice of law to gain administrative experience and to complete the Master of Public Administration graduate program. He accepted a position as a Land Use and Zoning Supervisor for a county environmental office in Minnesota with comprehensive county-wide zoning.
As a Land Use and Zoning Supervisor, Brian gained invaluable experience in every aspect of land use planning and zoning and in public administration. He interpreted, implemented, and enforced the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance on a daily basis. He facilitated and served in an advisory capacity at public meetings and public hearings of the Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners, and Board of Adjustment. He prepared proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance, established and revised implementation and enforcement procedures, reviewed and processed zoning permit, conditional use permit, and variance applications, and performed many other land use planning and zoning tasks. Brian also gained experience in various environmental matters. He served as the acting Environmental Office Director in the absence of the Director, served as an alternate member of an inter-agency Technical Evaluation Panel, administered the Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (STSS) programs and regulations, and assisted with other environmental matters. He was a member of the Minnesota Association of County Planning and Zoning Administrators and the Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers.
Brian elected to return to the practice of law and practiced law at the law firm where he previously practiced. He practiced in the areas of land use planning and zoning, municipal law, business law and nonprofit organizations, family law, estate planning and probate, and real estate law. He continued to practice law at the aforementioned law firm until he elected to establish the Balstad Law Firm.
At the Balstad Law Firm, Brian practices the following areas of law: Land Use Planning and Zoning and Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations.
Brian has provided continuing education presentations regarding land use planning and zoning law, eminent domain and condemnation law, public and private nuisances, easements, and other real property subjects to attorneys, paralegals, engineers, land surveyors, and planners. He has also presented on the topics of government, legislative processes, and lobbying.
In addition to being an attorney, Brian is an AICP Certified Planner, a lobbyist, and a consultant.
State Admission
▪ State of Minnesota
▪ State of North Dakota
Federal Admission
▪ United States District Court, District of Minnesota
▪ United States District Court, District of North Dakota
▪ United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
▪ Supreme Court of the United States
Training/Certification
▪ AICP Certified Planner
▪ Family Mediation (ND)
▪ Guardian Ad Litem (ND)
▪ Custody/Parenting Investigation (ND)