(A) It is hereby declared to be a nuisance and shall be unlawful for any person to establish or maintain, or permit to be established or maintained, any hive or box where bees are kept, or to keep or permit to be kept any bees in, on or upon any premises under his control within the city; provided, however, nothing contained in this subchapter shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the keeping of bees:
(1) In a hive or box located and kept within a school for the purpose of study or observation;
(2) In a hive or box located and kept within a physician’s office or laboratory for medical research or treatment, or for scientific purposes; or
(3) On any single-family residential property in the R-1 Zone, subject to the following requirements:
(a) General requirements.
1. Only the common domestic honey bee, Apis Mellifera species, at any stage of its development, shall be permitted.
2. No more than two hives may be maintained on any single-family residential property.
3. All bee colonies shall be kept in hives capable of being inspected and consisting of moveable frames and combs.
4. Hives must be kept in sound and usable condition at all times.
5. City staff shall conduct an initial inspection to verify compliance with all beekeeping requirements and may conduct an inspection as frequently as every six months to ensure compliance with these requirements. The city may charge a fee for inspections in an amount established by the City Council, from time to time, by resolution.
(b) Hive placement requirements.
1. Hives shall be located in the rear or side yard only. No hives shall be permitted in any front yard or in the street side yard of a corner property.
2. Hives shall be located at least five feet from the side and rear property lines.
3. Hive entrances shall face away from or parallel to the nearest property line(s).
4. Hives must either be screened so that the bees must fly over a six-foot barrier, which may be vegetative, before leaving the property, or be placed at least eight feet above the adjacent ground level.
(c) Hive management requirements.
1. Hives shall be continually managed to provide adequate living-space for their resident bees to prevent swarming.
2. Hives shall replace the queen bee in a colony with a younger and more productive queen (requeening) at least once every two years to prevent swarming.
3. A water source for bees shall be provided at all times on the property where the bees are kept to discourage bee visitation at swimming pools, hose bibs and other water sources on adjacent public or private property.
4. Hive maintenance materials or equipment must be stored in a sealed container or placed within a building or other bee-proof enclosure.
(d) Nuisance. Bees or hives shall be considered a public nuisance when any of the following occurs:
1. Colonies of bees exhibit defensive or objectionable behavior, or interfere with the normal use of neighboring properties.
2. Colonies of bees swarm.
3. Bees or hives do not conform to this code.
4. Hives become abandoned by resident bees or by the owner.
(B) No bees kept upon any premises pursuant to the provisions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section shall be permitted to fly at large.
(‘65 Code, § 6-2.403) (Ord. 637, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 608-C.S., passed 5-10-14) Penalty, see § 92.99