Placer County Municipal Code Art. 6.32 Beekeeping

When allowed in the applicable zone, beekeeping operations are subject to the requirements of this article. This article supplements and should be reviewed in conjunction with the California Apiary Protection Act (Sections 29000– 29321 of the Food and Agriculture Code) and Placer County Code Section 17.56.050, which contain additional information and requirements applicable to beekeeping operations. Commercial beekeeping is permitted by this article.

(Ord. 6190-B § 1, 2023)

"Apiary"

includes bees, comb, hives, appliances, or colonies, wherever they are kept, located, or found.

"Bees"

means honey-producing insects of the genus Apis. It includes all life stages of these insects.

"Beekeeper"

is any person who owns, operates, or possesses an apiary.

"Colony"

means one hive and its contents, including bees, and comb.

"Commercial apiary"

is operated by a beekeeper in the business of beekeeping or who possesses 10 or more colonies.

"Commissioner"

means the Placer County Agricultural Commissioner.

"Hive"

means any receptacle or container, or part of any receptacle or container, which is made or prepared for the use of bees, or which is inhabited by bees.

"Hobbyist beekeeper"

is any beekeeper, apiary owner, apiary operator, or person, who is not in the business of beekeeping and who possesses nine or fewer colonies.

"Nucleus colony"

means a hive which has been divided into two or more smaller hives for the purpose of loss replacement or swarm prevention. A nucleus colony is considered to be a colony as defined above 30 days after it is created.

"Pollinator apiary"

means an apiary established for the pollination of commercial seed, fruit, nuts, or other commercial crops dependent upon bee pollination. Pollination apiaries are temporary in nature, and their longevity is determined by the specific crop to be pollinated.

(Ord. 6190-B § 1, 2023)

A. Annual Apiary Registration and Fees. All beekeepers must register with the commissioner as required under the Apiary Protection Act. All beekeepers except hobbyist beekeepers must pay registration fees as required under the Apiary Protection Act.

B. Property Owner Permission Required. Beekeepers operating apiaries on property they do not own must provide the property owner's written permission to operate an apiary to the commissioner upon request.

C. Availability of Water. No person shall place, keep, or allow any apiary to remain in any location unless one of the following conditions exists:

1. There is a natural water supply, such as a lake, pond, or river, within one-half mile of the apiary; or

2. An artificial water supply, such as a sprinkler, trough, spigot or other piped or pumped water sources, for the apiary is maintained within 150 feet from any such apiary. If the artificial water supply is not owned or controlled by the beekeeper, the beekeeper shall have written permission to use the artificial water supply and such written permission shall be provided to the commissioner upon request.

3. Failure to provide water as required under this section constitutes a public nuisance.

D. Commercial and Pollinator Apiary Separation. Commercial and pollinator apiaries must comply with the following setback requirements:

1. A 50 foot setback is required from all property line boundaries. This requirement does not apply to adjacent parcels owned or under the control of the beekeeper or person who owns or controls the land where the bees are located.

2. A 50 foot setback from edge of easement is required from all public roadways.

3. Commercial apiaries must be separated from all other commercial apiaries by at least one mile, unless:

a. The commercial apiary location was registered with the commissioner prior to January 1, 2022.

b. The commercial apiary is being utilized as a pollinator apiary which may stay on a site for commercial crop pollination provided it is temporary in nature and is not present more than 15 days before or after the blooming period of the crop intended to be pollinated.

4. Failure to comply with commercial and pollinator apiary setback and separation requirements constitutes a public nuisance.

E. Non-Commercial Apiary. Non-commercial apiaries must be set back 25 feet from neighboring property boundaries unless:

1. A flyway barrier is erected. Flyway barriers must be at least six feet tall, must be placed between the hives and the adjoining property, and must extend six feet to the left and right of the hives. Flyway barriers may be a solid fence, wall, dense vegetation, or combination thereof; or

2. Hives are placed on a rooftop or surface more than 12 feet above the ground.

3. Failure to comply with non-commercial apiary separation requirements constitutes a public nuisance.

F. Hive Quantity Limitations. Pursuant to Placer County Code Section 17.56.050, no more than two colonies may be kept in the Residential Single-Family RS zone district. All other zone districts (RA, RF, RES, AE, F, FOR, O, TPZ,-AG) may keep no more than five colonies per acre, not to exceed a total of 100 hives in one location. Notwithstanding these limitations:

1. More than 100 colonies may be placed in one location for a period not to exceed three consecutive days for the purpose of consolidating smaller apiaries as part of bee transportation activities.

2. More than 100 colonies may be placed in one location if they are pollinator apiaries which are temporary in nature, longevity, and used only as necessary to pollinate a specific crop.

3. More than 100 colonies may be placed in one location between October 1 and January 31 provided that all other provisions of the Placer County Code are met, including, but not limited to, hive per-acre limits, setbacks, water supply, and property owner permission.

4. For purposes of calculating the number of colonies, three nucleus colonies will be counted as a single colony.

G. Transporting Bees.

1. No person shall transport bees on the public highway or roads in such a manner that the bees constitute a public nuisance.

2. No person transporting bees shall maintain the vehicle used to transport bees in position (i.e. park in the same area) for a length of time so as to constitute a public nuisance.

H. Abandonment of Apiaries.

1. Any apiary determined by the commissioner to be abandoned shall constitute a public nuisance.

(Ord. 6190-B § 1, 2023)

A. The commissioner is the enforcing officer of this article and the California Apiary Protection Act (Sections 29000–29321 of the Food and Agriculture Code) within the county.

B. Unless otherwise provided by law, a violation of any of the provisions of this article is punishable as provided in Placer County Code Section 1.24.010.

C. Any condition declared a public nuisance under this article is subject to the nuisance abatement procedures in Placer County Code Section 17.62.160.

D. Any person who violates a specific requirement of the California Apiary Protection Act (Sections 29000– 29321 of the Food and Agriculture Code) is subject to the exclusive penalties and enforcement prescribed therein.

(Ord. 6190-B § 1, 2023)