HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-16-26 Public Comment - C. Dreger - Need to establish regulations for bee hives in BozemanBozeman City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman MT. 59771
Re: Need to establish regulations for bee hives in Bozeman
Sirs:
June 10, 2026
Currently there are no regulations in Bozeman to regulate bee hives in the city. I live in Baxter
Medows West, (2492 Farrier Lane), and have a neighbor, (2489 Andalusian Ave.}, placing a bee
hive within 2-3 feet of my back property line, approximately 5-6 feet from my back patio, and
12-15 feet from a city sidewalk leading to Chief Joseph Middle School which is 2 blocks away.
Maintaining my 8 foot high rock wall supporting my patio, (pulling and spraying for weeds puts
me within a foot of the lot line and within 3 feet of the bee hive). This is unacceptable to me
and does not meet any state guidelines regarding bee hive placement. As Bozeman does not
regulate bee hives this issue defaults to the State of Montana.
Montana state law establishes baseline hive placement guidelines, and local jurisdictions often
layer additional requirements on top of these minimums. The State'of Montana does address
the issue of urban zones where local codes may mandate hive setbacks of 10 to 25 feet from
fences, buildings, and lot lines. Water access is a critical consideration. Bees require a constant
water source, and without one will seek water including neighbors birdbaths, pools, and dog
water bowls. The standard approach is to orient hive entrances away from property lines,
walkways, and areas where people and animals congregate and to redirect bee flight paths
upward which reduces the likelihood of bees coming into direct contact with neighbors or
passersby. The State also mandates hive registration and health inspections of the hives.
Considering the lot where the hive is located, none of the above State mandates are met. The
hive is basically on a lot line, is near a city sidewalk, and has no available water on its lot or any
adjacent lot. This places the hives owner, my neighbor, in opposition to the States
recommendations and required registration. This information has been forwarded to the
Bozeman Code dept. and I am waiting for a determination from them to have the hive
removed. I consider its placement a safety and health issue.
I strongly suggest to the City Commssion to adopt bee hive regulations for the city to keep its
residents hives in line with State mandates/recommendations. No Bozeman resident should
have to deal with a problem such as mine. If the City of Bozeman had a bee hive
code/regulation, this would insure the residents of Bozeman do not have to deal with bee hive
issues that are unsafe for them and unhealthy for the bees.
For reference, attached are bee keeping regulations/codes for the cities of Butte-Silver Bow,
Helena, and Great Falls. All address urban bee hive placement, water issues, required health
inspections, and city registration fees.
Sincerely
��-�/
Colleen Dre��� t
cadreger@icloud.com
(715)492-5598
1 SECTION 3:
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9 SECTION 4:
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NEW SECTION: There is hereby created a new section
of the B-SB MC to be numbered 6.28.020, which shall
read as follows:
"6.12.020 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is
to establish parameters regarding the keeping and
maintaining on any premises, property, or place
withing the jurisdictional area, hives, or
colonies of bees."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the B-SB MC to be numbered 6.28.030, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.030 Definitions.
A."Apiary" means a location where one or more
colonies of bees are kept or one or more hives
containing honeycombs or bee combs are kept.
B."Colony" means bees and their hive ( s) combined
and all equipment used in connection with the
hive (s) .
C."Hive" means a frame hive, box, barrel, log gum,
skep, or other receptacle or container, natural or
artificial, used as a domicile for bees.
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8 SECTION 5:
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D."License" means the current year registration
issued by the Animal Services Department for an
apiary with the fee set forth in Section 6.28.040
and includes the Apiary Certificate of Registration
issued by the Montana Department of Agriculture in
accordance with Section 80-6-102 of the Montana
Code Annotated."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.040, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.040 Hobby Beekeeping Conditions.
A.Hobby beekeeping is permitted in the
jurisdictional area as defined in Section 6.28.010
and subject to the limitations set forth in Section
6. 28. 050 and the zoning regulations set forth in
Title 17 of the BSB-MC.
B.Any person, firm, or corporation who maintains
honeybees must license and register each hiv with
the Butte-Silver Bow Animal Services Department,
and -register with the "Montana Department of
Agriculture, pursuant to Montana Administrative
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Rule 4.12.113 entitled "Registration and
Certification Fees-Apiary Fees".
C.All hives shall be initially registered and
licensed with the Animal Services Department at
least thirty (30) days prior to the establishment
of a colony and each hive will be assessed a five
(5)year license fee of twenty-five dollars
($25.00).
D.The Animal Services Department shall have the
right to inspect a hive at any time.
E.The Animal Services Department may utilize its
discretion to seek outside consul tat ion when it
deems necessary to assist in its inspection of hives
or its investigation of any alleged violations of
this chapter."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.050, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.050 Beehive Limitations. The keeping of an
apiary within the jurisdictional area as defined in
Section 6.12.010 of this chapter shall be limited
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as follows:
A.Commercial apiaries are not permitted within
the jurisdictional area defined in Section 6.28.010
of this chapter.
B.A property owner must have a minimum parcel size
of nine thousand (9,000) square feet for one (1)
observation hive of no more than six (6) frames,
each no larger than ten inches by twenty inches
(10' x 20") in size, and with no more than two (2)
pounds of bees.
C.A property owner with a parcel greater than
twenty thousand (20,000) square feet may have no
more than three ( 3) hives of honeybees on that
parcel of property.
D.A property owner with a parcel greater than one
(1)acre may have up to five (5) hives of honeybees
on that parcel of property.
E.A property owner with a parcel greater than five
(5)acres may have up to ten (10) hives on that
parcel of property.
F.Beehives shall not be maintained on premises
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where any adjoining property resident has a known
medically diagnosed allergic reaction to honeybee
stings."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.060, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.060 Distance Required. All hives must be
aintained at least fifteen ( 15) feet from the
boundary lines of the lot on which such hives are
located, unless a six-foot hedge, fence, or other
barrier is erected between the hive(s)and the
adjoining lots, with the intent of lifting bee
flight patterns above six (6) feet."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.070, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.070 Water Supply. No honey beehive shall be
maintained unless an adequate supply of water is
always furnished by the beekeepeE from April 15th
to October 15lli of each year."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
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10 SECTION 10:
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of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.080, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.080 Moveable framed hives.
A.All beehive colonies shall be maintained in hives
with movable frames.
B.All hives shall be entirely moveable.
C.All hives shall be maintained to have adequate
space in the hive to reduce overcrowding and
swarming."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.090, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.090 Colonies.
A.Colonies shall be maintained by the resident
beekeeper.
B.Colonies of bees shall be re-queened, united
with another hive, split, removed, or tother such
appropriate action, following any swarming of
aggressive behavior."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.100, which shall
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read as follows:
"6.28.100 Hive restrictions.
A.Non-moveable frame hives or unmanaged hives
(honeybees which live in the sides of houses,
attics, decks, sheds, etc.) are prohibited with the
City-County of Butte-Sivler Bow, Montana.
B.Feral honeybees may occupy tree cavities if they
do not constitute a public nuisance."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.110, which shall
read as follows:
"6.28.110 Night manipulation prohibited. Beehives
may not be manipulated later than one hour after
sunset and earlier than one hour before sunrise
unless the hives are being moved to or from another
location."
New Section: There is hereby created a new section
of the BSB-MC to be numbered 6.28.120, which shall
read as follows:
A. Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars
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SECTION 14:
SECTION 15:
(500.00) and the beehive owner shall be ordered to
abate the violation or remove any hive not in
compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
B.Jurisdiction for any violations shall be in the
Butte-Silver Bow City Court.
REPEALER: Section 6.12.040 entitled "Keeping apiary
prohibited" is hereby REPEALED.
Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full
force and effect from and after thirty (30) days
after its passage and approval.
PASSED this day of , 2023. ----------
SHAWN FREDRICKSON CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF COMMISSIONERS
APPROVED this day of , 2023. --------
23 J. P. GALLAGHER
24 CHIEF EXECUTIVE
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26 ATTEST:
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30 CLERK AND RECORDER
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A.All bee l1ive colonies c,l1cill lw 111c1i11L1i11ed i11 l1ives wiLh rnovc1blP 11 ,1111ec,.
13./\II hives shc1I! be e11Li1 ely 1novc:'<1hle.
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SWdl ming,
(01 d. 31 bO, 20·1 /).
6 .. 0 /0 Colonies.
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C,yt{Gre'at Falls MONTANA
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6.J..080 -Hive re�triction�.
t1ee1wcl, united wilh crnolhei-hive, c,plit, 1 e,novecl, 01 oLlwr '>l1ch
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A Non 111uvec1ble l1c.1rnc' llivec, or u11managecl hives (honeybees wl1icli live i11, sides of houses,
c1ttics, clec ks, shedc; elc .) c1re prohibited within tile City Ii mils.
13.I era! ho11eyb(�es 1nc1y U(lllJJY Lree cc1vilies, i1 tl1ey do not consiilule c1 pt1blic. n11isance els
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(Orel. 3160, 20·1 /).
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(Orel. 3·160, 20·1 7).
6.2.100 - P Ile I' ies.
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City of Helena
City of Helena, Montana
316 N. Park Avenue, Room 150 Helena, MT 59623
(406)447-8450 Fax (406) 447-8377
citywater@helenamt.gov
APIARY LICENSE APPLICATION
LICENSE IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR. JANUARY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 31
City of Helena
City ordinance permits the keeping of two hives by a hobbyist beekeeper upon obtaining an apiary license.
Please complete the required information below including attachments and return this form with the $15 fee to
the address shown above.
Owner's Name:
Physical Address:
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Number of hives
Species of bees
Address or property description where hives will be kept:
This property is LJ owned or _LJ_ leased by me.
Describe the type of hive used and size:
Attached: ----Montana Department of Agriculture hobbyist apiary site registration
Site plan showing: ---.-•property owned or leased where the apiary site is located,
. • availability of a water source within 20' of the site,•location of hives with respect to property lines (at least 15' from property lines); and
•location and type of 6' high barrier between the site and adjoining property that prohibits the directflight of bees.
I agree not to manipulate the hobbyist apiary site between the hours of sunset and sunrise unless the hives are being moved to or from another location or for public safety. I further agree that the apiary site must be
requeened or united with another hive following any swarming or aggressive behavior by the bees of this site or any hive therein.
I hereby certify that I am the owner of the bees and that I will personally manage, maintain and operate the
apiary site.
Signature Date