No person shall keep or maintain any hive of bees in the city
except under the following conditions:
(a)
No
more than five hives shall be maintained on any one lot or parcel
of land except that this condition shall not apply to any agricultural
use within any zone pursuant to a use permit. The address of all such
hives shall be registered with the office of the Santa Clara County
agriculture commissioner.
(b)
No
hive shall be kept or maintained within twenty-five feet of any side
or rear property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which situated,
as those property lines are determined pursuant to Title 19, or within
one hundred feet of any dwelling unit, other than that occupied by
the person maintaining the hives, whichever distance is greater and
more restrictive.
(c)
No
hive shall be kept or maintained on any parcel or lot between the
line of the front face of the main building extended and the street
adjoining the front yard as defined in Title 19, unless such hive
is located not closer than one hundred feet from the edge of the street
right-of-way.
(d)
All
hives shall be oriented so that the entrance faces the house or building
occupied by the person maintaining the hives, and shall be surrounded
by a solid fence not less than six feet in height, located no farther
than thirty feet from such hives. Said fence may be open on that side
facing a house or building on the premises. This condition may be
met by locating such hives upon or affixed to a building or structure
so that their entrances are more than ten feet from the ground and
face a house or building on the premises.
(e)
A
constant water supply adequate to the needs of all hives located on
the premises shall be maintained on those premises.
(Ord. 3146-19 § 1)
The city council finds that the maintenance of beehives within the city not in compliance with the regulations contained in Section 6.08.010 constitutes a public nuisance. The regulations contained in Section 6.08.010 are adopted for the general welfare of the citizens of the city. The regulations contained in Section 6.08.010(b) are adopted, in addition, specifically for the purpose of enhancing the welfare of the owners and occupants of properties adjoining lots or parcels upon which beehives are maintained and such persons are found to be specially affected by the maintenance of such beehives. Therefore, the requirements of Section 6.08.010(b) shall not be applicable if the person desiring to maintain the hive or hives shall file with the administrator written consent of the owners or adult occupants of the adjoining properties and/or dwelling units from which the distance limitations contained in Section 6.08.010(b) are to be measured. Consent by any such owner or occupant shall be deemed irrevocable for the period of two years after it is executed, and may be revoked by the grantor or successor resident after such period, following at least ninety days' written notice, filed with the administrator.
(Ord. 3146-19 § 1)
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to authorize any agricultural or similar use not otherwise permitted under the provisions of Title 19.
(Ord. 3146-19 § 1)
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to invalidate or supersede the provisions of Section 6.02.040(c) or any other provision of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall not prevent enforcement of Section 6.02.040(c) or any other applicable provisions of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code.
(Ord. 3146-19 § 1)
