(A) Every person keeping or maintaining an apiary in the city shall:
(1) Submit a copy of the registration with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to the city. All bees or colonies not registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture shall be declared a nuisance. The beekeeper shall have 30 days in which to register. Failure to comply within 30 days will result in abatement of the nuisance;
(2) Submit a copy of the inspection certificate signed by the inspector of apiaries, or other officer charged with similar duties from the State of Illinios or other states for bee diseases, bee parasites or other nuisances and found to be in compliance with the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act (ILCS Ch. 510, Act 20);
(3) All apiaries shall be identified. This identification shall consist of the state abbreviation “IL” followed by the beekeeper’s state registration number in weatherproof lettering not less than one-half inch in height. The number shall be displayed prominently on the front of a hive;
(4) A convenient source of water shall be available at all times to the bees so that the bees will not congregate at swimming pools, bibcocks, pet water bowls, birdbaths or other water sources where they may cause human, bird or domestic pet contact. The water shall be maintained so as not to become stagnant;
(5) Upon removal of a bee comb or other materials from the hive, all such materials shall promptly be disposed of in a sealed container or placed within a building or other bee-proof enclosure;
(6) In any instance in which a colony exhibits unusually aggressive characteristics by stinging or attempting to sting without due provocation, or exhibits an unusual disposition towards swarming, it shall be the duty of the beekeeper to requeen the colony. Queens shall be selected from stock bred for gentleness and nonswarming characteristics.
(B) Any bee colony not residing in a hive structure intended for beekeeping, or any swarm of bees, or any colony residing in a standard or homemade hive which, by virtue of its condition, has obviously been abandoned by the beekeeper, is unlawful.
(1990 Code, § 4-9) (Ord. 84-935, passed 2-20-1984; Ord. 88-1227, passed 8-1-1988; Ord. 22-3675, passed 6-20-2022) Penalty, see §
90.999