Tulare County Municipal Code Art. 2 Apiaries

As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)

"Apiary"

means one or more hives of bees.

(b)

"Hive"

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

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)

Every person owning or in possession of an apiary located on premises other than that of his or her residence shall identify such apiary by affixing a sign thereto showing the name of the owner or the person in possession of the apiary, his or her address and telephone number or, if he or she has no telephone, a statement of that fact. Such person shall affix such a sign on the longer side of the hive or the longer side of the super, prominently located on the entrance side of the apiary, and shall maintain such sign thereon at all times. Such signs shall be in black letters at least one (1) inch in height on white or other contrasting color. The lettering shall be printed, stenciled, or the equivalent thereof, in black paint or black ink.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)

No person shall place or maintain an apiary upon the land of another unless he or she first secures written permission from the owner or person entitled to possession of the land to place the apiary thereon.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)

In order to prevent bees from being a hazard or nuisance to persons, no person shall place or maintain an apiary less than the following prescribed distances from the objects specified:

(a) Twenty (20) feet from the right-of-way of a State highway or County road.

(b) One quarter (1/4) mile from the outside boundary of any school or park.

(c) Two hundred (200) feet from any occupied residence or any building which is occupied for business purposes, unless the person or persons occupying such residence or building give written consent to the apiary being located at a lesser distance.

(d) Two hundred (200) feet from a swimming pool or an air strip which is being used by airplanes on a regular basis.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)

The owner or person in possession of an apiary shall provide the bees with an adequate supply of water of a quality suitable for bees. The water shall be available in immediate proximity to the apiary.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)

Any vehicle transporting hives of bees shall be parked in such a manner or screened so as to prevent bees from becoming a hazard or nuisance to people or animals in the vicinity when the vehicle is parked or stopped.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)

No person shall use any vehicle for the transportation of bees or beehives or for the purpose of servicing an apiary unless such vehicle is identified by a sign which is prominently displayed on the outside of the vehicle that states in letters not less than one (1) inch in height on a background of contrasting color the name, address and telephone number of the person using the vehicle for such purposes. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who operates a vehicle used for such purposes who is merely traveling through the County from a point outside the County to a destination outside the County.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)

(a) Any person violating any of the provisions of section 6-05-2020 of this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided in section 125 of this Ordinance Code.

(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article, other than section 6-05-2020, shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in section 125 of this Ordinance Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)