(A) Purpose. The purpose and intent of this section is to permit and establish requirements for the keeping of honey bee colonies, hives, and equipment within the City of La Crescent.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APIARY. The assembly of one or more colonies of bees on a single lot.
BEEKEEPER. A person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of honeybees.
COLONY. An aggregate of honey bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey.
FLYWAY BARRIER. A solid fence, wall, or dense vegetation at least six feet in height that continues parallel to the apiary site lot line at least ten feet in each direction from the colony, that requires bees to fly over, rather than through the barrier. Depending on the barrier type and construction, or location, additional permitting may be required prior to installation.
HIVE. The receptacle inhabited by a colony.
UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY. A lot adjacent to an apiary where residential dwellings, commercial buildings, trails, sidewalks, or streets do not currently exists, or are greater than 25 feet from an existing hive.
(C) Location requirements.
(1) Beekeeping is permitted in all zoning districts in accordance with this code section. In the C-1 - Commercial District, CBD 1 - Commercial Business District, CBD 2 - Commercial Business District, and I - Industrial District, hives must be kept on the roof of a building at least 12 feet in height.
(2) Hives must not be located in the front yard, unless on a lot greater than five acres. For the purpose of this section, a corner lot has two front yards.
(3) Hive setback must be in accordance with the following requirements:
Hive Setback
|
Distance
|
Lot line | 20 feet |
Lot line with a flyway barrier | 15 feet |
Adjacent dwelling | 25 feet |
Trail/sidewalk/patio | 25 feet |
(D) Colony design.
(1) Colonies must be kept in removable frame hive bodies no more than 9 and 5/8 inches deep with no more than ten frames.
(2) An adequate and convenient water source must be within ten feet of active hives.
(3) Hives must not exceed six feet in total height.
(4) Each beekeeper shall ensure that no wax comb or other material that might encourage robbing by other bees is left exposed outdoors. Such materials must be stored in sealed insect-proof containers or placed within a building.
(5) Maximum number of colonies permitted based on lot size:
Lot Size
|
Number of Colonies
|
Less than 0.50 acres | 1 colony |
0.51 to 1.0 acres | 2 colonies |
1.01 to 2.50 acres | 4 colonies |
2.51 to 4.99 acres | 8 colonies |
5.00 to 9.99 acres | 16 colonies |
Greater than 10 acres | 32 colonies |
(E) General regulations.
(1) All beekeepers must register active hive sites with the Building Official or designee. Existing hives must register within 60 days of the publishing of this section. All beekeepers must register active hive sites annually.
(2) Sale of honey or related bee products. Retail sales in residential zones must only be from hives on that property. Home occupations must meet all of the existing requirements in the La Crescent Municipal Code.
(3) Beekeepers shall provide written documentation that all immediate neighbors have been notified bees will be kept on the property.
(4) If an underdeveloped property adjacent to a colony is developed, the colony locations must comply with all sections within 90 days of the development.
(5) Hive bodies must be maintained in good condition, including maintenance of paint, and when not in use must be removed within 14 days if they are no longer occupied.
(6) Beekeepers shall submit a written plan on how they intend to minimize or prevent swarming to the Building Official or designee. For swarm prevention purposes a beekeeper may exceed the maximum colony requirement for up to 35 days, but must meet all other requirements of this section.
(7) Hives shall be continuously managed to provide adequate living space for their resident honeybees in order to control swarming.
(8) In any instance in which a colony exhibits unusual aggressive behavior, it shall be the duty of the beekeeper to promptly implement appropriate actions to address the behavior. Queens shall be selected from European stock bred for gentleness and non-swarming characteristics.
(9) The City Building Official or designee shall have the right to inspect any apiary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this section between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. once annually upon prior notice to the owner of the apiary property and more often upon complaint without prior notice. It shall be deemed a violation of this section for any person to resist, impede, or hinder the Building Official or designee in the performance of their duties in inspecting any apiary and apiary site.
(F) Violation. A violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor subject to penalty not to exceed $300.
(Ord. 570, passed 7-24-23)