Plymouth City Council Approves Beekeeping Ordinance
Plymouth is the latest city welcoming beehives to residential backyards.
The Plymouth City Council approved a residential beekeeping ordinance this week.
“I’ve had two residents reach out in support of the ordinance, and while bees concern me personally, it’s not my decision as to what people want to do in their homes,” said Plymouth City Council member Alise McGregor.
Permit Required from City of Plymouth
The ordinance requires that homeowners apply for a city permit before setting up any hives.
Applicants will be charged a $100 fee to apply for the permit.
They’ll need to show proof that they’ve taken a college level beekeeping class, as well as any plans they’ve made for bee management and native pollinator preservation.
Hives must include signage alerting the public to the presence of bees.
Publicly-owned properties can also house beehives. However, commercial properties are not eligible for a permit.
Permits operate on a two-year cycle. That is, beekeepers have to reapply for the permit every two years. However, if the first permit is approved, the application fee is waived when they reapply.
Beekeepers can keep up to two hives in their first year of operation. They can have up to four the second year.
Opposition and Objection Period for Beehives
Plymouth Mayor Jeffry Wosje opposed the ordinance.
“I’ve seen plenty of lesser things that have made neighbors mortal enemies of each other,” he said. “My uncle is deathly allergic to bees. He has to bring an EpiPen everywhere he goes. If he gets stung, he’ll be dead in five minutes. So there are people in our community that may be that severe, or may not be severe … if they see beehives going up, they’re going to freak out.”
The city will notify neighbors when a homeowner applies for a permit.
They’ll be given a 14-day period to object.
If they file an objection, the issue will be addressed at a hearing in front of the Plymouth City Council and Planning Commission.
Plymouth City Council Rejected Beehives in 2021
The council had previously rejected a beekeeping proposal in 2021. At the same time, they approved the backyard keeping of chickens.
The 2021 draft of the beekeeping policy included a potential requirement for a six-foot high barrier built near hives. The barrier is intended to direct bee flight away from neighboring yards.
“There was something called a fly-away barrier associated with the regulations,” said Chole McGuire, Plymouth planning and development manager. “That’s essentially something like fence panel next to it blocking it from the adjacent property.”
At the request of Council Member Julie Pointner, the requirement was added to the new ordinance.
