HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeekeeping 122116 NJBeekeeping Regulations
(Section 7-20.230 of the Municipal Code)
December 21, 2016
Background
•Bees play an essential role in our food production system by
aiding the production of many of the nuts, fruits and
vegetables in our diets.
•Honeybees have declined in recent years, even as the world
moves progressively towards growing more crops that are
increasingly more dependent on bee pollination.
•The number of managed honey bee colonies in the United
States has declined steadily over the past 60 years.
Background (Continued)
City Requirements Distance of Hives
from Public Road Water Supply
Saratoga
Shall be located not less 500 feet from the nearest
residence, church, school, public building, corral or
water area
300 Feet A water supply adequate in quantity for the apiary
should be provided and maintained
Los Altos
Hills
Shall be located not less than 1,000 feet from the
nearest residence, church, school, public building,
corral or water area
300 Feet A water supply adequate in quantity for the apiary
should be provided and maintained
Campbell
Shall be located not less than 1,000 feet from the
nearest residence, church, school, public building,
corral or water area
300 Feet A water supply adequate in quantity for the apiary
should be provided and maintained
Los Altos 1 hive allowed for each 5,000 sq. ft. of lot area -A water supply adequate in quantity for the apiary
should be provided and maintained
Los Gatos
Shall be located not less than 1,000 feet from the
nearest residence, church, school, public building,
corral or water area
300 Feet A water supply adequate in quantity for the apiary
should be provided and maintained
Surrounding Cities
Monte Sereno, Cupertino, and Santa Clara have revised their beekeeping ordinances to encourage
homeowners to maintain bees on their properties.
Some examples of the “bee friendly” modifications in these ordinances include (but not limited
too):
•Permitting hives 6-20 feet from property lines
•Maintaining hive entrances to face a structure on the property
•Limiting hive height to a maximum of 6 feet
•Limiting the number of hives (2-6 hives per property, depending on lot size)
Recommended Amendments
•Allow hives w/in the side &rear yards only (min.of a 6’
setback)
•6’is the max.height of hives
•Hive entrances shall not face an abutting property line
•Require a barrier 6’tall,adjacent to the entrance of the hive
for all zoning districts except R1-40,000,HR,R-OS,A
•A maximum of 3 hives per property w/in zoning districts R1-
10,000,R1-12,500,R1-15,000,and R1-20,000
•A maximum of 4 hives per property w/in the R1-40,000,HR,
R-OS,A zoning districts and an additional hive permitted for
each ½acre over two acres
Recommended Action
Direct staff to prepare a draft ordinance with
the proposed amendments to the beekeeping
requirements.