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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem V Draft_11.28.16 Sec. xx-x - Keeping of bees. A. Definitions. The following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context of their usage indicates another usage. 1. "Apiary" means the assembly of one or more colonies of bees at a single location. 2.A“ fricanAhoneyAbee”A(Apis mellifera scutellata) means a subspecies or hybrid of the common domestic honey bee (Apis mellifera) native to central and southern Africa. 2. "Beekeeper" means a person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of bees. 3. "Beekeeping equipment" means anything used in the operation of an apiary, such as hive bodies, supers, frames, top and bottom boards and extractors. 4. "Colony" means an aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey. 5. "Hive" means the receptacle inhabited by a colony that is manufactured for that purpose. 6. "Honey bee" means all life stages of the common domestic honey bee, apis mellifera (African subspecies and Africanized hybrids are not allowed). 7. "Lot" means a contiguous parcel of land under common ownership. 8. “NucleusAcolony”AmeansAaAsmallAquantityAofAbeesAwithAaAqueenAhousedAinAaAsmallerAthanAusualA hive box designed for a particular purpose. B. Purpose of ordinance. The purpose of this section is to establish certain requirements for beekeeping within the city, to avoid issues that might otherwise be associated with beekeeping in populated areas. 1. Compliance with this section shall not be a defense to a proceeding alleging that a given colony constitutes a nuisance, but such compliance may be offered as evidence of the beekeeper's efforts to abate any proven nuisance. C. Standards of practice. 1. Residential Districts, the following regulations shall apply. a. Honey bee colonies shall be kept in hives with removable frames, which must be kept in sound and usable conditions. b. No more than one (1) beehive shall be kept for each 3,000 square feet of gross lot area, and no beehive shall be kept on a lot less than 3,000 square feet in area. c. No beehive shall be kept closer than five (5) feet to any lot line and twenty five (25) feet to a dwelling or the permitted placement of a dwelling on another parcel, and beehive shall be placed only in the rear yard. The entrance of any beehive shall face away from the property line of the adjacent property closest to the beehive. d.A AsolidAfenceAorAdenseAhedge,AknownAasAaA“flywayAbarrier,”AatAleastAsixA(6)AfeetAinA height, shall be placed along the side of the beehive that contains the entrance to the Draft_11.28.16 hive, and shall be located within five (5) feet of the hive and shall extend at least two (2) feet on either side of the hive. No such flyway barrier shall be required if all beehives are located on roofs, porches or balconies at least ten (10) feet above grade, except if such roof, porch or balcony is located less than five (5) feet from a property line. e. A supply of fresh water shall be maintained in a location within ten feet of each colony and readily accessible to all bee colonies on the site throughout the day to prevent bees from congregating at neighboring swimming pools or other sources of water on nearby properties. f. Each beekeeper must ensure that no wax comb or other material that might encourage robbing by other bees are left upon the grounds of the apiary lot. Such materials once removed from the site shall be handled and stored in sealed containers, or placed within a building or other vermin-proof container. g. Each beekeeper shall maintain his beekeeping equipment in good condition, including keeping the hives painted if they have been painted but are peeling or flaking, and securing unused equipment from weather, potential theft or vandalism and occupancy by swarms. h. Prohibitions. Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) may not be kept on a property under the regulations of this Section. 2. Non-Residential Districts. In zoning districts other than Residential Districts, all regulations applicable in Residential Districts shall apply except that the number of beehives shall be limited to one (1) for each 5,000 square feet of lot area, and no beehive shall be kept on a lot less than 5,000 square feet in area. D. Permit required. 1. No beekeeping may occur on any property in the city unless the city issues a permit to the beekeeper on that specific property. The permit will be valid for a single calendar year beginning on January 1st and expiring on December 31st. 2. A beekeeping permit will only be issued if: a) the permit application documents the satisfaction of all applicable items and, b) consent has been given by all property owners and tenants adjacent to the applicant's property lines. 3. Permits are non-transferable and do not run with the land. 4. The fee for the initial permit shall be as established by the city council. Annual renewal of the permit is required and the fee for the renewal permit shall be as established by the common council. 5. All standards of practice must be met in order to issue a permit. 6. If the standards of practice are not maintained subsequent to issuance of a beekeeping permit, the permit may be revoked by the city.