Beekeepers concerned over B.C. city's proposed hive restrictions

Beekeepers in Revelstoke, B.C., are concerned they may feel the sting of the lawafter the city introduced a draft update to itsbylaws restricting the size of property on which hives can be kept.

The city, about 155 kilometres east of Kamloops,released a265-page draft update to its zoning bylaws this spring and it includes a section on beekeeping something that wasn't covered in the past.

Ron Glave, who owns BeeKind Honey Bees, says the way the rules are written shows a lack of understanding from the city towardbees.

"They're industrious,they're focused on collecting for the hive, and they're really gentle and easy to work with," he says.

Now, Glaveand other beekeepers are worried that they won't be able to legally keep their bees due to restrictions on where they can be kept.

The proposed rules would not allow anyone who lives on a lot smaller than 4,000 square metres (43,056sq. ft.) to keepbees.

"We're hoping that's a typo," Glavesaid, adding that lot size is 10times bigger than that of the average city lot in Revelstoke.

The rules further statehives have to be in backyards, 7.5 metres from the edge of the property.

That's just not realistic for the way most people keep bees, Glavesaid, with many keeping their hives on top of carports and garages, and in their front yards or backyards. Hobbyists also have electric fences, or boards with nails sticking out, to keep away bears.

Glave, who started as a hobbyist in 2013, sayshe usesbest practices.

"I really tried to promote responsible beekeeping knowing we [didn't] have a bee bylaw," he said.

John Hordyk, another hobbyist who keeps hives enclosed in an electric fence in his front yard, saidhe and his neighbours have noticed an improvement in their gardens and fruit trees since he got the honeybees three summers ago.

Hobbyists Melissa Hemphill, Nora Hughes andTyler and Susie Kathol agreed.

The Kathols keep hives on the roof of their carport.

"It's like we have tens of thousands of little beepets, especially when you're building a big garden," Susie Kathol said."You want things to be really pollinating."

Revelstoke is a designated Bee City, meaning it's committed to eliminatingtoxic chemicals and promotinggardens beneficial to pollinators, saidAmanda Cockburn, executive director of the Local Food Initiative.

Honeybees and other pollinators play a key role in local food systems, and connect people to where their food comes from, according to Cockburn.

"We know our public officials have a lot going on, our city is growing at an exponential rate," she said. "We're finding that food security isn't a top priority."

City says bylaws can be updated

Paul Simon, Revelstoke's lead planner, saidit would be impossible for the city to get everything right the first time on such a big overhaul, and that the bylaws would continue to be revived to reflect the reality of the community.

Simon said the regulations around beehives aren't meant to be prohibitive.

Rather, he says they're to encourage more people to keep bees in a responsible way. Simon added that the city will work with beekeepers, in the fall, to update the rules so they align with current best practices.

The planner saidthe engagement happening between the city and beekeeping community is part of the process, and encouraged residents to have a voice in the bylaw changes.

"It's important," he said."It's the community we live in.

"These are living documents and can be changed and adapted as needed."

WATCH | Beekeepers concerned over draft Revelstoke bylaws:

Beekeepers in Revelstoke, B.C., worried about city's proposed hive restrictions

3 days ago

Duration 2:30

Beekeepers are calling on the City of Revelstoke to amend a draft bylaw that they say would affect their ability to keep backyard beehives.