[Adopted 3-28-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
In order to produce the goods on which the Earth's population depends, a large number of plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals, including birds, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles and bees (both native and from managed honeybee colonies). As one means to promote successful pollination of plants, it is hereby established the right for the keeping of honeybees in managed bee colonies in the Village of Dobbs Ferry subject to the provisions set forth herein. All existing and new apiaries and bee colonies shall be managed to meet the spirit and intent of these provisions.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APIARY
A hive or hive-like structure having removable frames specifically designed, constructed and maintained for purposes of housing a bee colony.
BEE
Any life stage of the common, domestic, generally nonaggressive honey bee, Apis mellifera species.
BEE COLONY
An aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one queen and at times many drones, including brood, combs, honey, and the receptacle inhabited by the bees within an apiary.
BEEKEEPER
A hobbyist who is an owner of and responsible for managing one or more bee colonies in an apiary or multiple apiaries.
BEEKEEPING
Practices associated with the keeping, operation, harboring and/or maintenance of a bee colony or colonies by a beekeeper.
B. 
Requirements for beekeeping.
(1) 
It shall be the duty of every beekeeper:
(a) 
To register all apiaries maintained within the Village of Dobbs Ferry;
(b) 
To be educated in and strictly adhere to best management practices;
(c) 
To maintain bees, bee colonies and apiaries in a location and condition that will prevent diseases, abandonment of the apiary by the bee colony and swarming, and discourage any potential for aggressive behavior and other nuisance behaviors, including, but not limited to, those defined in this article; and
(d) 
To respond immediately to control bee swarms and to address and remediate any nuisance conditions.
C. 
Rules and regulations. The Village may promulgate, and may amend from time to time, rules and regulations as may be deemed appropriate in furtherance of this article with such rules and regulations being made available at the office of the Village Clerk and on the Village website. At a minimum, the Village shall include the following items in such rules and regulations:
(1) 
All bee colonies shall be kept in appropriately sized, designed and maintained apiaries with removable frames, which shall be kept and maintained at all times in sound and usable condition.
(2) 
Each apiary shall be labeled by the beekeeper with the name and contact information of the responsible beekeeper and alternate emergency contact information, which information shall be visible from a distance of no less than 15 feet from the apiary.
(3) 
An independent and reliable source of water shall be provided on the property housing the bee colony in a sufficient quantity and within a reasonable distance from the apiary in order to encourage use by the bee colony.
(4) 
An appropriate flight barrier shall be located in proximity to the entrance of the hive to encourage an upward flight pattern for all bees in the bee colony as they enter and depart the apiary.
(5) 
Guidance concerning examples of "nuisance" activity in the field of beekeeping, including the following illustrative, as opposed to comprehensive, list:
(a) 
Bees from bee colonies that injure or threaten injury to persons, domestic pets, or property;
(b) 
The presence of bees from bee colonies on neighboring or nearby properties in significant quantities, except that behavior necessary to routine foraging for pollen by bees shall not constitute per se nuisance behavior;
(c) 
Bees from bee colonies that engage in aggressive, swarming or similarly objectionable behavior;
(d) 
A bee colony housed in an apiary which is placed so that the apiary or bee movement to/from such apiary unreasonably interferes with pedestrian traffic or persons residing on or adjacent to the property upon which such apiary is located;
(e) 
An apiary which is overcrowded, diseased, abandoned or maintained in any condition or location where the bee colony cannot thrive.
D. 
Annual bee colony registration. All apiaries shall be registered annually with the Village on forms provided or approved by the Village; the purposes of such registration being to maintain a record of the number and location of each apiary, to obtain the most current contact and credential/education information in connection with each beekeeper and to obtain a certification from each beekeeper acknowledging receipt of a copy of this article and the most current rules and regulations that may be promulgated pursuant to this article. A beekeeper shall provide to the Village any updates to the information contained in the annual registration within 10 days of any change, including, but not limited to, the abandonment or change in location of any apiary.