HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Ordinance 2023-09CITY OF PLYMOUTH
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE No. 2023-09
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS X AND XXI OF THE PLYMOUTH CITY CODE,
REGARDING THE KEEPING OF BEES (2023036)
THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Amendment. Section 1010.01, subd. 7 of the Plymouth City Code (LICENSE FEES—
Miscellaneous) is amended to add the following subsection Q as follows:
Q. Beekeeping License 100 biennial license fee (every two years)
SECTION 2. Amendment. Section 21005.02 of the Plymouth City Code (RULES AND
DEFINITIONS—DEFINITIONS) is amended by adding, deleting, or changing definitions as follows:
Animals:
a) Domestic Animals. For purposes of this Chapter, a domestic animal shall be
defined as house pets such as dogs, cats, and birds (except those defined as
farm animals or wild animals) that can be contained within a principal structure
throughout the entire year, provided that containment can be accomplished
without special modification to the structure requiring a building permit from
the City. In addition, it includes and rabbits, normally sheltered outside
the home.
b) Farm Animals. Cattle, hogs, potbelly pigs, becl, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys,
horses (including miniatures) and other animals commonly accepted as farm
animals in the State of Minnesota.
Bees, Related:
a) Apiary: The assembly of one or more colonies of bees at a single location.
b) Beehive: A receptacle inhabited by a colony that is manufactured for the
purpose of housing bees,which is designed so that the beekeeper can collect the
honey that they produce.
c) Beekeeper: A person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of bees.
d) Colony: An aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but typically
having one queen and at times drones, brood, combs and honey.
e) Flyaway Barrier: A barrier that directs bees'flight upward to prevent bees from
flying at a height where they would intersect with a person or animal in a
neighboring property.The barrier could be a solid wall, fence,dense vegetation,
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or any combination thereof that provides an obstruction through which honey
bees cannot readily fly.
f) Water Supply: A natural pond/stream or artificial container holding sufficient
water with landing sites for honey bees to forage without drowning
SECTION 3. Amendment. Section 21170.01, subd. 1 of the Plymouth City Code (ANIMALS—
Keeping Animals) is amended to read as follows:
Subd. 1. Domestic animals, except bees, are allowed in all zoning
districts, as regulated by Chapter IX of the City Code.
SECTION 4. Amendment. Section 21170 of the Plymouth City Code (Animals) is amended to add
Section 21170.04 (Keeping of Bees), as follows:
21170.04 Keeping of Bees.
Subd. 1. License Required. No person shall have bees within the City of Plymouth without first
obtaining a Beekeeping License.The procedures and fees for such license shall be as set forth in
Chapter X, Licenses and Permits; Procedures and Fees of the City Code.
Subd. 2. Licensing Process.
a) A Beekeeping License shall only be granted for use in RSF-1, RSF-2, RSF-3,single-family
detached PUD, and P-I zoning districts.
b) Application Requirements.
1) A license application shall be signed by the property owner and shall include the
submittal of a site plan and hive plan with the location and specifics of the hives,
setbacks from all property lines and structures, including those on adjacent properties.
The application shall also denote the proposed beekeepers, if different from the
property owner.Any change in this information shall require a new application to the
City.
2) Evidence of completion of the "Beekeeping in Northern Climates" course from the
University of Minnesota or other comparable institution.
3) A bee management plan must accompany the application, including plans for swarm
management, mite and disease treatment, and native pollinator preservation.
c) Upon receipt of a beekeeping application, the City shall follow the process for Home
Occupations under Section 21145.
d) Any selling of honey from the home would require a separate home occupation license
process pursuant to section 21145, in addition to any requirements from the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture Dairy and Food Inspection Division regulations.
e) The City hereby reserves the right upon issuing any beekeeping license to inspect the
premises in which the beekeeping is being conducted to ensure compliance with the
provisions of this section, or any conditions additionally imposed.The City reserves the right
to suspend or revoke any beekeeping license based on failure to comply with this section or
relevant City Code sections, in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 1005.
Subd 3. Hive Requirements. Any person keeping bees within the City of Plymouth under a
license granted under this section shall comply with the following requirements:
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a) Location. Colonies shall be located in the side or rear yard only and shall have a setback of at
least 10 feet from the side or rear property lines. A 6 foot flyaway barrier shall be provided.
b) Water Source. An appropriate water source shall be provided within 10 feet of each colony.
c) Signage.The licensee shall post a clearly visible warning sign indicating that a beehive is
present on the property.The sign shall be between four and eight square feet and oriented
towards the public, as determined by the zoning administrator. No separate sign permit is
required.
d) Number. Each property may be allowed up to two hives at initial permit submission, with
the potential to increase to four in the spring to accommodate hive expansion.
e) Neighborhood Beekeeping. Common spaces on residential, homeowners association
maintained properties, properties zoned Public/Institutional, or properties owned by the
City, are eligible for a beekeeping license if:
a. All other requirements of this section are met.
b. One main beekeeper shall be identified as an ongoing point of contact,willing to
respond to any questions or concerns with the ongoing operations of the hive(s).
c. The colony is located a minimum of 50 feet from public trails.
SECTION 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be effective upon its passage.
APPROVED by the City Council on this 8th day of August, 2023.
Jeffry Wosje, Mayor
ATTEST:
Jodi Gallup, City Clerk