tdavis
06-21-2008, 07:35 PM
Does anyone know if we townies are allowed to keep bees?
View Full Version : Beekeeping in Sebastopol
Zeno Swijtink
06-21-2008, 09:43 PM
Does anyone know if we townies are allowed to keep bees?
I know people in Sebastopol town we do keep bees. The only place in which the City's ZONING ORDINANCE mentions bees is when it defines domestic pets: you're not supposed to keep bees as pets, whatever that means.
I know people in Sebastopol town we do keep bees. The only place in which the City's ZONING ORDINANCE mentions bees is when it defines domestic pets: you're not supposed to keep bees as pets, whatever that means.
Lenny
06-22-2008, 06:09 AM
I know people in Sebastopol town we do keep bees. The only place in which the City's ZONING ORDINANCE mentions bees is when it defines domestic pets: you're not supposed to keep bees as pets, whatever that means.
In most small towns everybody is in everybody else's business, so you best get a reading from the city attorney. If you decide to ignore this whole issue and tend to bees, it is most advisable to ask every neighbor around your property if they've a problem. Some folks are very allergic to bee stings, and that would be a potential problem for all.
Top bar hives would be a sneaky way around it for a while, as they don't look like standard bee hives. Bee Kind has one for sale or run 'top bar hive' on the internet to view. Now Bee Kind has a few hives in their back parking lot, but then that's a business. You might talk with those folks.
One could argue that bees as pets is an oxymoron since bees are not domesticated and never can be. Bees are considered wildlife, like lions and tigers and bears.......(fill in). Are pets "domesticated"?
In most small towns everybody is in everybody else's business, so you best get a reading from the city attorney. If you decide to ignore this whole issue and tend to bees, it is most advisable to ask every neighbor around your property if they've a problem. Some folks are very allergic to bee stings, and that would be a potential problem for all.
Top bar hives would be a sneaky way around it for a while, as they don't look like standard bee hives. Bee Kind has one for sale or run 'top bar hive' on the internet to view. Now Bee Kind has a few hives in their back parking lot, but then that's a business. You might talk with those folks.
One could argue that bees as pets is an oxymoron since bees are not domesticated and never can be. Bees are considered wildlife, like lions and tigers and bears.......(fill in). Are pets "domesticated"?
tdavis
06-22-2008, 11:02 AM
So, as long as I don't name them I can let them hang out in a box in my yard?
Lenny
06-23-2008, 05:49 AM
So, as long as I don't name them I can let them hang out in a box in my yard?
NO.
Nice try but it would never stand up to any authority's mandating accountability should something happen.
FIRST talk to your neighbors, or do you want to kill them? Someone of them may be allergic to bee stings.
THEN talk to the folks at Bee Kind. They may have specific information regarding town ordinances.
FINALLY, do your homework. If you've researched bee keeping to make sure you don't kill 2 to 50,000 living creatures while providing them with what they need to thrive, then do a bit more and write a letter to the city attorney, mayor, design review board, city representative, or all four, to find out the ordinances. Then go read them your self to look for loopholes.
Or you could keep them on someone else's property. They don't need tending but every few days, not like a dog needing daily walks.
But let us know how or what you find out or do. Am interested.
NO.
Nice try but it would never stand up to any authority's mandating accountability should something happen.
FIRST talk to your neighbors, or do you want to kill them? Someone of them may be allergic to bee stings.
THEN talk to the folks at Bee Kind. They may have specific information regarding town ordinances.
FINALLY, do your homework. If you've researched bee keeping to make sure you don't kill 2 to 50,000 living creatures while providing them with what they need to thrive, then do a bit more and write a letter to the city attorney, mayor, design review board, city representative, or all four, to find out the ordinances. Then go read them your self to look for loopholes.
Or you could keep them on someone else's property. They don't need tending but every few days, not like a dog needing daily walks.
But let us know how or what you find out or do. Am interested.
tdavis
06-23-2008, 07:03 AM
Wow, Lenny, you're just a bundle of fun!
I'm not a big stupid head. I have contacted a member of the city council already. I have spoken with the nice young lady at Beekind and another at Bear Foot. I have been doing a lot of reading and asking questions of those who have hives.
No one I've contacted yet is really certain what the city rule may be regarding beekeeping. I posted on Wacco just in case someone out there had a more concrete answer. I am certainly going to continue my research and if and when I do get bees, you can rest easy knowing that I'll be doing my best not to kill 2-50,000 little creatures. Sheesh!
I'm not a big stupid head. I have contacted a member of the city council already. I have spoken with the nice young lady at Beekind and another at Bear Foot. I have been doing a lot of reading and asking questions of those who have hives.
No one I've contacted yet is really certain what the city rule may be regarding beekeeping. I posted on Wacco just in case someone out there had a more concrete answer. I am certainly going to continue my research and if and when I do get bees, you can rest easy knowing that I'll be doing my best not to kill 2-50,000 little creatures. Sheesh!
Lenny
06-23-2008, 07:20 PM
Sorry, TD, it's just the question appeared to be that of a 'big stupid head'. My bad. The nice young lady at Bee Kind probably should have referred you to the owners for a more definitive answer, or so I gathered from this response. The folks at Bear Foot (I like them a lot) probably don't know much about city rules since they are primarily in the country.
Again, sorry for being too direct with you. I just hope your not as thin skinned when you get your bees, since you will be stung. Just comes with the territory. Make sure you get good Italian bees as they are the most gentle and do not sting, for the most part. Can't speak for Australian or Russian bees, but I know all Italians are ever so gentle and laid back. Good luck, and come to the meeting, 2nd Monday 7-9.
https://www.sonomabees.org/index.html
Wow, Lenny, you're just a bundle of fun!
I'm not a big stupid head. I have contacted a member of the city council already. I have spoken with the nice young lady at Beekind and another at Bear Foot. I have been doing a lot of reading and asking questions of those who have hives.
No one I've contacted yet is really certain what the city rule may be regarding beekeeping. I posted on Wacco just in case someone out there had a more concrete answer. I am certainly going to continue my research and if and when I do get bees, you can rest easy knowing that I'll be doing my best not to kill 2-50,000 little creatures. Sheesh!
Again, sorry for being too direct with you. I just hope your not as thin skinned when you get your bees, since you will be stung. Just comes with the territory. Make sure you get good Italian bees as they are the most gentle and do not sting, for the most part. Can't speak for Australian or Russian bees, but I know all Italians are ever so gentle and laid back. Good luck, and come to the meeting, 2nd Monday 7-9.
https://www.sonomabees.org/index.html
Wow, Lenny, you're just a bundle of fun!
I'm not a big stupid head. I have contacted a member of the city council already. I have spoken with the nice young lady at Beekind and another at Bear Foot. I have been doing a lot of reading and asking questions of those who have hives.
No one I've contacted yet is really certain what the city rule may be regarding beekeeping. I posted on Wacco just in case someone out there had a more concrete answer. I am certainly going to continue my research and if and when I do get bees, you can rest easy knowing that I'll be doing my best not to kill 2-50,000 little creatures. Sheesh!