Agreed, but it is what we thought we could get passed and far better than the current "no livestock on residential lots" with bees up to interpretation of the issuing officer as to whether they are livestock. One of the other provisions in this package would've defined miniature pigs and goats as pets. Funny, neither of those raised objections. I most certainly would have issues with smelly or escapee pigs or goats long before I would bees.

You can't even have livestock on your place? WOW.......

Perhaps more input and help from 4-H, gardening clubs and other pro bee groups will make a difference next time. Hard to change the minds of the ignorant but the more folks you have on your side the better as politicians understand there could be repercussions for their votes! You put a lot of effort into the fight so far and should be commended, though!

Chris

You're allowed to keep anything here... except swine.

But like most towns mine is ran by idiots, like everywhere else.

Mike

Specifically this applies to lots zoned residential not RA or residential/agricultural. Perfectly legal on RA to keep bees or other livestock.
Part of the issue is the county is fast moving to R zoning for subdivisions and this has many of our current RA zoned members concerned that they could lose the RA zoning.

What/who caused all the concern?
My wife has been looking into getting started beekeeping. We have never heard of many restrictions placed on bee hives. Do they make you have insurance incase your bees sting somebody too?

I would move before someone told me what I could or could not have on my own land.

A long time friend of mine and I built his house in a fairly upscale housing development several years ago. He is not allowed to keep his boat outside, cannot have clothesline in his yard, there are restrictions on the design of the single small shed he is allowed to have on his property and the lamp post he is required to have for a dusk-dawn light in his front yard, and probably some other stuff I can't think of right now.
His wife loves it there, he has gotten used to the way things are and says it keeps the property values up.

I doubt he would be allowed to keep bees, but I never thought of that 'til now.

My nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away and I own the land on both sides of the road in both directions. I wouldn't trade my place for his, even though his is probably worth about three times what mine is.

The concern started almost four years ago. First the livestock ordinance has been on the books forever and is notable in its sheer lack of enforcement and never for bees until this came up.

Almost four years ago a couple new members got bees and set them up on their one acre lot. They followed all BMP recommendations (center rear of lot over 60' from property lines, fenced property, 30' let land cypress lining the property lines, water source provided). One neighbor upon learning that there were bees in the neighborhood demanded their immediate removal. No stinging incident or other bad interaction reported.
This began a year long pattern of harassment including threats and nasty lawyer letters. When the threat of civil suit went away the neighbor began looking for another method and found this old unenforced and legally vague ordinance. He literally had to threaten the code enforcement officer to get the citation issued. This started the legal proceedings in which I was called as both a witness and mediator. My instructions from the county was "make this go away" because they did not want to prosecute. The beekeepers were willing to take it all the way asking for a jury trial and we're planning on taking it as high as they could to get a proper definition of "livestock" knowing full well they would probably lose.
Meanwhile code enforcement/county is asking me for a new code to prevent this in the future. So I draft a no restriction ordinance that was a nonstarter, followed by a detailed five pager that defined every aspect of bee king and beekeeping equipment and practice that allowed basically what you see above with the addition of a nucleus colony per established hive to allow splitting.
It boiled down to what I posted above but in the meantime county elections flipped the commission from a majority/majority board to a majority/minority board and everything was tabled pending fallout. The original case was resolved with moving the bees and the county declining to prosecute and what appeared to be a return to status quo. But since they ball had already been started it was decided to see it through.

These hives sit not a half mile from the County Administration Building and was posted to our Facebook page as an example of how docile bees are. None of those opposed would even bother to look at it or take us up on our offer to show them. These are our teaching hives. BTW, that's me in the video.

Wow what a bunch a nuts them clowns must be an very ignorant apparently on the subject. No wish to learn.
I live in the city for cry out loud and my neighbor across the street has couple hives behind his house. His bees are in our garden all the time I even tease him about it..I didn't even know he had hive there until mentioned to next door neighbor I was seeing more honey bees. He say yep Dick has hives behind the house over there. Had me sign a letter for him saying was ok with me. You he said are just far enough away he didn't have to ask you..I would have been ok with it anyway. When I say we are in the city I mean in the city. Dick's back yard bumps up to the back of O'Reilly's Auto part store and a bowling alley.
We can have 6 hen chickens here too, only same deal need ok from neighbors within so many feet.

Mac

Some laws are meant to be broken.

What does the current law say?

I would place all my woodenware out and place a sign by them saying - Vacant - Free Rent. Then they are not your bees - they can come and go as they wish.

If I want to build something I just build it.

Well your'e lucky Bruce

Guess id be in trouble in Henry co Georgia.I have one acre here with neighbors on all sides.I dont ever get complaints from them.

Very nice.Now there's some bees

Did the original complainant offer a reason such as a family member being allergic to bee stings or was it because they just didn't like bees.

I wish someone would pass an ordinance against mosquitos.

Jim

That’s a lot of hard work to see it (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) away. I’ve been known to be vindictive in my younger years, afraid that would resurface and be on the lookout for anything the neighbor or commissioners do that I could find fault with and cause a storm over.

If there ever comes a next time, involve kids with plenty of parents for support.