[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.
APIARY
BEE
BEE COLONY
BEEKEEPER
BEEKEEPING
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A hive or hive-like structure having removable frames specifically
designed, constructed and maintained for purposes of housing a bee
colony.
Any life stage of the common, domestic, generally nonaggressive
honey bee, Apis mellifera species.
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.
A hobbyist who is an owner of and responsible for managing
one or more bee colonies in an apiary or multiple apiaries.
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.
