HomeMy WebLinkAboutUrbanBeekeepingPermitApplicationUrban Beekeeping Permit
Application
PERMIT IS VALID FOR ONE CALENDAR YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31.
Permits obtained after January 1 in any given calendar year will also expire December 31 of that
year; and permit fees will not be pro-rated. Permit required for urban beekeeping and bees are only
permitted on lots containing single-family residential properties.
APPLICANT/PROPERTY INFORMATION
Applicant Name: _______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________
Address (where beekeeping is to take place): _________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (if different): ________________________________________________________ Zip ______________
Contact # _________________________________________ E-mail: _______________________________________
Property Zoning District: _________ Single-Family Use? (lot must contain a single-family property)
Property Square Footage: __________________
PERMIT FEES
Permit fee is $15.00.
REGULATIONS FOR BEEKEEPING
Total number of hives to be kept: _____
For lots ½ acre or smaller – maximum of 2 hives. Lots larger than ½ acre but smaller than one acre – maximum
of 4 hives. Lots one acre or larger – maximum of 6 hives
You must provide the following with your application:
Scaled Site Plan/Zoning approved by Planning Services (Planning Services can provide this to you for a fee)
Site plan must show the required flyway barrier for hives located within 25’ of a lot line.
Written statement of support from your property owner if you are not the owner of the property.
Written agreement between your property owner and you as the applicant as to plans for maintenance of
the hives and bees and their disposition after the applicant vacates the premises.
Volume of proposed hive(s) (15 cubic feet maximum)
Complete regulations regarding urban beekeeping within the city of Oshkosh can be found on the City of
Oshkosh website at http://www.oshkoshwi.gov, Municipal Codes, Chapter 6, Animals.
REQUEST AND AFFIDAVIT
The applicant must read the following statement carefully and sign below:
I hereby certify that the information submitted is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. In submitting
the permit application, I acknowledge and agree the application is subject to all the regulations found in
Chapter 6, Animals of the Oshkosh Municipal Code and further agree to fully comply with said regulations. If
the requirements of Chapter 6, Animals are not complied with, the City of Oshkosh shall revoke any permit
granted. Once a permit has been revoked, it shall not be reissued for a period of at least two years.
________________________________________________ __________________________
Applicant Signature Date March 2025
City of Oshkosh
Planning Services Division
Room 204, City Hall
215 Church Avenue
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
920-236-5059
March 2025
SECTION 6-3.3 URBAN BEEKEEPING
(A) Purpose
The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for urban beekeeping
on lots containing single family residential uses within the city. Honeybees are
critical pollinators for flowers, fruits and vegetables. Managed colonies of bees
help to increase yields and quality of a large variety of plants commonly found
in backyard gardens, parks, and natural areas. A growing interest in renewable
resources has prompted more people to take up urban beekeeping as a way to
produce their own honey, beeswax, pollen and other hive products that are
high in nutritional value. Domestic strains of honeybees have been selectively
bred for desirable traits so that they can be kept within populated areas and in
reasonable densities. By providing reasonable regulations for urban
beekeeping on properties, the City can support a sustainable activity while
setting standards that are practical for beekeepers and safe for neighbors.
(B) Definitions
(1) "Apiary" means the assembly of one or more colonies of bees at a single
location which also include wild bee houses constructed by the
property owner.
(2) "Africanized honey bee" (Apis mellifera scutellata) means a subspecies or
hybrid of the common domestic honey bee (Apis mellifera) native to central
and southern Africa.
(3) "Beekeeper" means a person who owns or has charge of one or more
colonies of bees which also includes a person constructing a wild bee
house on their property.
(4) "Beekeeping equipment" means anything used in the operation of an
apiary, such as hive bodies, supers, frames, top and bottom boards and
extractors.
(5) "Colony" means an aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers,
but having, when perfect, one queen and at times drones, brood,
combs, and honey.
(6) "Hive" means the receptacle inhabited by a colony that is constructed
for that purpose.
(7) "Honey bee" means all life stages of the common domestic honey bee, apis
mellifera (African subspecies and Africanized hybrids are not
allowed).
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(8) "Lot" means a contiguous parcel of land under common ownership.
(9) "Nucleus colony" means a small quantity of bees with a queen housed
in a smaller than usual hive box designed for a particular purpose.
(10) “Primary Residential Structure” shall mean any building located on a lot and
used for living purposes.
(11) “Undeveloped property” shall mean any idle land that is not improved or
not in the process of being improved with residential, commercial, industrial,
church, park, school or governmental facilities or other structures or
improvements intended for human occupancy and the grounds maintained
in associations therewith.
(C) Permit required
(1) No beekeeping may occur on any property in the city unless the
Community Development Director or designee 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) Every Beekeeper shall pay the City Treasurer prior to January 1 of each year,
the sum of Fifteen ($15.00) for a permit to keep bees on property owned or
occupied by the person.
(3) A beekeeping permit will only be issued if:
(a) The permit application is submitted including but not limited to the following
information: name of applicant, property address, contact number, license fee, and
scaled site plan consistent with the standards of practice identified within this
section; together with any additional information reasonably determined to be
necessary by the Director of Community Development to determine whether the
applicant has or will comply with all standards of practice identified within this
section and any other applicable ordinance or statutory requirements. Tenants
submit to the City a written statement of support signed by the property owner.
Tenants seeking to keep bees also submit a written agreement between the
landlord/property owner and applicant, as to the plans for maintenance of the hives
and bees and their disposition after the applicant vacates the premises.
(b) A permit is issued by the Planning Services Division for construction of the
required flyaway barrier, if necessary.
March 2025
(4) Permits are personal to the applicant, non-transferrable, and do not attach to or run with
the land.
(5) The fee for the initial permit shall be as established by the Common Council. Annual
renewal of the permit is required and the fee for the renewal shall be equal to the initial
permit fee as established by this Chapter.
(6) If the standards of practice are not established and/or maintained subsequent to issuance
of a beekeeping permit, the permit may be revoked by the City. Once a permit has been
revoked, it shall not be reissued for a period of at least two years.
(D) Standards of practice
(1) In all zoning 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) The maximum size of a hive shall not exceed 15 cubic feet in
volume.
(c) The maximum number of hives allowed on any lot are based on the
size of lot, as follows:
(i) Lot size of½ acre or smaller: maximum two (2) hives
allowed.
(ii) Lot size larger than½ acre but smaller than one acre:
maximum four (4) hives allowed.
(iii) Lot size of one acre or larger: maximum of six (6) hives
allowed.
(d) No beehive shall be kept closer than five (5) feet to any lot line and
twenty-five (25) feet to a primary residential structure or the
permitted placement of a primary residential structure on
another parcel, and beehive shall be placed only in the rear or side
yard. The entrance of any beehive shall face away from the
property line of the adjacent property closest to the beehive.
Beekeeping equipment shall be screened to avoid being visible
from the street or sidewalk.
(e) A solid wall, fence or dense hedge, known as a "flyway barrier,"
at least six (6) feet in height, must be placed around all beehives
located within twenty-five (25) feet of a lot line. This flyway barrier
shall be located within five (5) feet of the hive entrance and shall
extend at least three (3) feet on either side of the hive (See
Appendix X).
March 2025
(f) Flyway Barrier Exemptions. No such flyway barrier shall be
required for individual beehives that are located on roofs,
porches or balconies at least ten (10) feet above grade.
Beekeeping equipment kept on roofs, porches or balconies shall
be screened from view. A flyway barrier is not required if the
property adjoining the apiary lot line is undeveloped, or is zoned
agricultural or non-residential, or is a wildlife management area
or naturalistic park land with no horse or foot trails within
twenty-five (25) feet of the apiary lot line.
(g) A supply of fresh water no smaller than three (3) gallons in size
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.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(j) Unused equipment shall be secured from weather, potential theft or
vandalism and occupancy by swarms. It shall be a violation of
this section for any beekeeper’s unused equipment to attract a
swarm, even if the beekeeper is not intentionally keeping
honeybees. Prohibitions. Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera
scutellata) are prohibited and may not be kept on a property under the
regulations of this Section.
(k) Bees shall not be kept or maintained upon a vacant lot or inside a
primary residential structure, including basements, porches, garages,
or accessory structure such as garages, sheds, or similar storage
structures.
(A) Appeals regarding Determinations to Deny Permit
March 2025
(1) The City of Oshkosh elects not to be strictly bound by the provisions of Chapter 68
Wisconsin Statutes in relation to Appeals of Determinations to Issue Beekeeping Permits
under this Chapter and appeals shall proceed as follows.
(2) Per Section 30-344(B)(1) of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code, any person denied a
permit may file an appeal with the Board of Zoning Appeals within ten (10) business
days of the date the notice of denial is postmarked.
(3) Notices of Appeal shall be filed with the Department of Community Development in
writing, specify the reasons for the appeal and be signed by the person making the
appeal.
(4) The Board of Appeals shall decide whether to uphold or reverse the administrative
decision of the Director of Community Development or Designee.
(5) The Board of Appeals shall act upon the appeal and issue its written decision within
sixty (60) days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal per Section 30-412(H)(1). The
decision of the Board of Appeals shall be the final determination in relation to this issue
and may be appealed within the time specified and as provided in Section 68.13
Wisconsin Statutes.
(B) Revocations of Permits
(1) Revocation of permits may be commenced by complaint filed by city staff acting in their
official capacity or by any abutting property owner.
(2) Complaints shall be filed with the Department of Community Development in writing,
specify the reasons the permit should be revoked and be signed by the person making
the complaint.
(3) Complaints shall be heard before a Hearing Officer who shall be appointed by the City
Manager. Any person or party aggrieved by such decision of the Hearing Officer may
appeal such decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals by filing a written notice of appeal
with the City Clerk within ten (10) City business days of mailing of a written order from
the Hearing Officer.
(4) The Board of Appeals shall decide whether to uphold or reverse the administrative
decision of the Hearing Officer.
(5) The Board of Appeals shall act upon the appeal and issue its written decision within
sixty (60) days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal per Section 30-412(H)(1). The
decision of the Board of Appeals shall be the final determination in relation to this issue
and may be appealed within the time specified and as provided in Section 68.13
Wisconsin Statutes.
(6) Unless appealed as provided above in which case such appeal shall act as a stay upon
this provision until a final determination is issued by a court of competent jurisdiction,
upon revocation of a permit the property owner shall cease all beekeeping activity on his
or her lot within 14 days. Failure to do so shall be considered a violation of this
Ordinance. The Director of Community Development or Designee shall have the
responsibility of enforcing this provision and may take such action as is necessary to
abate such violation.