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Honeybee Ordinance

Last year, the Village began reviewing ways that our current ordinances could be amended to be more permissive for individuals looking to take greater control over the food consumed in their households. Two of the areas identified involve allowing residents to keep honeybees and chickens. In January and February of 2025, the Village Council is continuing its review of these two topics.
The Council will focus on the proposed amendments allowing honeybees at its January meeting and chickens at its February meeting. Both ordinances had public hearings in late 2024. To assist the Council’s consideration of these issues, we are asking residents to complete a short survey based on the draft ordinances being considered.
The purpose of this survey is to receive feedback on the specific regulations being considered, not general comments on the topic themselves. This month, the Village Council would like your feedback specifically as it relates to draft regulations allowing honeybee keeping in areas of the community.
1.The draft ordinance requires property owners to obtain a permit before conducting honeybee keeping. Do you support requiring permits for individuals wanting to engage in beekeeping?
2.The draft ordinance limits the size and number of colonies allowed based on parcel size, with a range allowed between two colonies and eight colonies. All colonies are required to maintain various setback distances, including 100 feet from an existing dwelling. Do you feel the number of allowed colonies is:
3.The draft ordinance limits the size and number of colonies allowed based on parcel size, with a range allowed between two colonies and eight colonies. All colonies are required to maintain various setback distances, including 100 feet from an existing dwelling. Do you feel the required setback from existing homes is:
4.The draft ordinance requires that properties employ a flyaway barrier of at least six feet in height if a colony is located within twenty-five of a property line. Do you feel this requirement is necessary?
5.As drafted, the ordinance would allow beekeeping in all residential districts. Below are three maps, if the ordinance was amended to limit the areas to less than all residential districts, which map best matches your view on where beekeeping should be permissible based on the zoning districts shaded green:
6.Finally, after reviewing the draft ordinance and taking this survey, do you feel: