Chapter 8.12
BEEKEEPING
Sections:
8.12.040 Beekeeping best practices.
8.12.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for beekeeping as an accessory use in all zones within the city while establishing advisory standards to minimize potential impacts to surrounding properties and persons. [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. A)].
8.12.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be deemed to mean and be construed as follows:
A. “Apiary” means a place where bees are kept, and includes a collection of hives, combs, appliances, or colonies wherever they are kept or located and no matter the number of hives, combs, appliances or colonies.
B. “Beekeeping” means the keeping, maintaining, or allowing of any hive of any size on any parcel within the city.
C. “Bees” mean honey-producing insects of the genus Apis, including adults, eggs, larvae, pupae, or other immature states thereof, together with such materials as are deposited into hives by adult bees, except honey and rendered beeswax.
D. “Hives” mean any receptacle or container made or prepared for the intended use of bees and/or storage of honey or brood, or box or similar container of which bees have taken possession and/or inhabited. [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. A)].
8.12.030 Allowed use.
Beekeeping is an allowed use in most of the city’s residential zoning districts pursuant to RCMC Tables 23.307-1, 23.310-1, 23.313-1, and 23.316-1.
No application form is required for beekeeping. Rather, the provisions of this chapter are intended to establish advisory information for best practices relative to the keeping of bees in the city of Rancho Cordova. [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. A)].
8.12.040 Beekeeping best practices.
All beehives in the city should be located and maintained consistent with all of the standards below.
A. A minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet is advised for beekeeping. A maximum of two hives should be allowed on any lot or parcel up to 10,000 square feet in size. For lots or parcels between 10,001 and 20,000 square feet in size, a maximum of four hives should be allowed. For lots or parcels larger, a maximum of six hives should be allowed.
B. Hives should not be kept or maintained within any required front yard area. Hives located within the side and rear yard areas of a lot should maintain a minimum of a 10-foot setback from side and rear property lines to the hives.
C. It is the responsibility of the person owning, controlling, and/or maintaining an apiary to provide adequate water for the bees to prevent bees from seeking water in neighborhood swimming pools, birdbaths, ponds, or other community bodies of water.
D. Compliance with State Law. Nothing in this chapter shall excuse compliance with state law applicable to apiaries, including the requirement that apiaries be registered with the county under Sections 29040 through 29056 of the Food and Agriculture Code. [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. A)].