Chapter 6.05
BEE KEEPING
Sections:
6.05.010 Definitions.
“Apiary” and “apiary property” includes bees, honey, beeswax, bee comb, hives, frames and other equipment, appliances and material used in connection with an apiary.
“Beekeeper” includes any individual, partnership, association or corporation, but does not include any common carrier when engaged in the business of transporting bees, hives, appliances, bee cages or other commodities which are the subject of this chapter, in the regular course of business.
“Bees” means honey-producing insects of the genus Apis and includes the adults, eggs, larvae, pupae or other immature stages thereof, together with such materials as are deposited into hives by their adults, except honey and beeswax in rendered form.
“Colony” or “colonies of bees” refers to any hive occupied by bees.
“Disease” means pests, diseases or any condition affecting bees or their brood.
“Hive” means any receptacle or container made or prepared for use of bees, or box or similar container taken possession of by bees.
“Honeycomb” means a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by bees to contain their brood and stores of honey. (Ord. 2015 §1(part), 2015).
6.05.020 Bee keeping.
The keeping or maintaining of bees, colonies of bees, hives, honeycombs, or containers of any kind of character wherein bees are hived is subject to the following:
A. Registration with the city is required prior to establishing any hive or other bee keeping activity on any lot or parcel within the city limits and the director of community development shall provide a bee keeping application and registration process.
B. Number of Hives Permitted.
1. A maximum of three bee hives shall be kept or maintained on a lot or parcel less than one acre in size.
2. A maximum of six hives shall be kept or maintained on a lot or parcel greater than one acre in size.
3. A beekeeper who owns five or more hives is required by the state to register them with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
C. Hives shall consist of removable frames, which shall be kept in sound and usable condition.
D. Hives shall not be placed within a required front, side or rear yard setback area.
E. In each instance where a hive is kept less than twenty-five feet from a property line, a flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall be maintained parallel to the property line for a minimum of ten feet in either direction from the hive. The flyway barrier may consist of a wall, fence, dense vegetation or a combination thereof, such that bees will fly over rather than through the material to reach the colony.
F. A constant supply of fresh water shall be provided for the colonies on site within fifteen feet of each hive.
G. Each beekeeper shall ensure that no wax comb or other material that might encourage robbing by other bees are left upon the grounds of the property. Such materials once removed from the site shall be handled and stored in sealed containers or placed within a building or other insect proof container.
H. The sale of surplus honey or beeswax produced on site shall be permitted on the property where the keeping of bees is permitted per applicable business license and/or home occupation regulations. However, outdoor sales are prohibited.
I. Only docile common honey bees shall be permitted. African bees or any hybrid thereof are prohibited.
J. A beekeeper shall immediately replace the queen in a hive that exhibits aggressive characteristics, including stinging or attempting to sting without provocation. (Ord. 2015 §1(part), 2015).