HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #01 Peter MurphyChapter 13 Specific Use Requirements
Section 13-15 Personal Beekeeping
Purpose and Intent. The intent of this Section is to regulate beekeeping for personal and educational use only. Bees,
honey, beeswax, and related items production for sales is prohibited.
A. Permitted Districts
1. Personal beekeeping as an accessory use is permitted in all Agricultural and Single Family Residential zoning
districts (E-1, R-1, R-1a, R-2, R-3, AG, and AGO-1). Personal beekeeping is prohibited in all other zoning
districts.
2 Beekeeping for educational or research purposes by an institution such as college, school, place of worship,
or agricultural extension office is allowed in all other districts, subject to the requirements of this Section.
B. General Requirements
1. The number of colonies on a lot is limited to 1 colony per 4,100 square feet of lot area up to a maximum of 6
colonies regardless of lot size.
2. No bee colony shall be kept in a hive that exceeds 10 cubic feet.
3. Bee hives may be located on the ground or on the roof of any building with a permanent foundation.
4. Hives on the ground may not be located in a front yard.
5. Hives must be set back a minimum of 15’ from any property line.
6. If the opening of any hive located on the ground opens directly onto any activity area (such as a walkway,
patio, swimming pool, play area, etc.) then a flyway barrier must be maintained to the following standards:
a. Be minimum of 6 feet in height; and,
b. Consist of a solid wall, fencing material, or dense vegetation (or in combination) running parallel to
the property line and extending at least 5 feet beyond the hive in each direction so that all bees are
forced to fly at an elevation of at least 6 feet above ground.
7. Colonies shall be maintained in movable-frames with adequate space and management techniques to
prevent overcrowding and swarming.
8. Any colony exhibiting swarming or aggressive behavior must be immediately re-queened. Aggressive
behavior is any instance in which unusual aggressive characteristics such as stinging or attacking without
provocation occurs.
9. Every beekeeper shall maintain the following on the same property a colony is located:
a. An adequate supply of fresh water located near to each hive; and,
b. Annual and/or perennial plantings that offer a diversity of natural pollen and forage
C. Registrations and Training
1. Beekeepers are encouraged to register their colonies with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology prior to April 1 of each year.
2. The beekeeper(s) shall have successfully completed the Indiana bee school hosted by Beekeepers of Indiana.
Definitions
Colony: a family-unit of bees consisting of a queen, workers, and drones
Hive: a man-made structure specifically built to house a bee colony
Swarm: a large number of honeybees, in company with a queen, moving together from one hive to start a new colony in
a different location
Re-queening: the process of removing an existing queen from the colony and replacing it with a new queen.