(a) No person shall place or keep a beehive in the City without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Health Commissioner. Permit applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable annual fee of five dollars ($5.00) for each apiary to help defray the costs of processing the application.
(b) The Health Commissioner shall issue a permit for an apiary if he or she finds that:
(1) The apiary does not constitute a nuisance;
(2) The apiary does not disturb the tranquility of the surrounding neighborhood;
(3) The apiary does not endanger the public health; and
(4) The apiary is placed and maintained in a manner approved by the Health Commissioner. The following restrictions may be imposed:
A. The back of the beehive may be no less than six feet from any adjoining residential property or any public road or public right of way and shall comply with zoning restrictions.
B. The side of the beehive may be no less than fifteen feet from any adjoining residential property or any public road or public right of way and shall comply with zoning restrictions.
C. The front of the beehive may be no less than twenty-five feet from any residential property or any public road or public right of way and shall comply with zoning restrictions.
D. The front or entrance of the beehive shall not directly face residences or adjoining property owners.
E. No person shall place or keep an apiary, or cause or allow an apiary to remain, on land not owned or possessed by such person, without first obtaining the written permission to do so of the owner or person lawfully in possession of such land.
F. Every person owning, possessing or controlling an apiary shall maintain within ten feet of each apiary a supply of water with a backflow prevention device which shall be equipped with a float valve or similar device which assures an adequate accessible and useable supply of water for the bees.
(c) Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section 698.02.
(Ord. 1992-48. Passed 5-4-92.)