2018-729 FILE ORDINANCE NO. 2018-729
An ordinance regulating beekeeping on residential properties in the City of Janesville,
with penalties for violations thereof as set forth in J.G.O. 6.12.200.
SECTION I. Section 6.12.130 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is
hereby created to read as follows:
6.12.130 Residential Beekeeping
1. Keeping of Honey Bees Allowed When
a. A "honey bee" is defined as any member of the genus Apis.
b. Any person may keep up to two colonies of honey bees on any residential zoned
lot in the City which contains a single-family or two-family residential dwelling.
One additional colony per acre would be allowed for all properties one acre or
larger in size.
c. If bees are no longer kept at the property, any beehive structures shall be
removed from the yard within 30 days. No hive may house a colony of insects
other than honey bees.
d. All beekeeping activities, structures and products existing on a residential lot
shall be for personal use only and cannot be operated as part of a business.
e. All beekeeping activities must be in compliance with Wis. Stat 94.76 and ATCP
21.13, as from time to time amended or renumbered.
f. Any property keeping honey bees shall place a sign in the front yard of the
property indicating the presence of a beehive.
2. Location of Beehive Structures
a. A "beehive" is defined as any man-made, enclosed structure created to house
and accommodate honey bees.
b. Beehives may only be located in the rear yard area. Beehives shall not be
located in the front, interior side or corner side yard of the residential zoned lot.
c. Beehives shall not be located within 10 feet of any property line. Beehive
entrances shall face away from the property line of any neighboring developed
lot.
d. Beehives shall not be located within 150 feet of any property designated as a
"sensitive site". A sensitive site is defined as any property that requires beehives
to be kept at a greater distance for medical, safety or sustained public nuisance
reasons. These sites include, but are not limited to: schools, daycares, medical
facilities, senior care facilities, playgrounds, pools and outdoor athletic facilities.
Properties designated as a sensitive site reserve the right to waive their
designation. Residential properties can also be designated as a sensitive site if
the resident(s) can demonstrate a prolonged need for the increased buffer
distance from beekeeping activities due to a health or safety concern. Property
owners who are interested in starting beekeeping activities at their residence
shall alert their all neighbors within 150 feet of the beehive beforehand on a form
provided by the City Clerk-Treasurer.
3. Required Structures for Residential Beekeeping
a. Honey bees must be maintained in beehives with removable combs for
inspection purposes. Both langstroth and top bar beehives are acceptable
beehive structures. The beehive structures must be maintained in good repair.
b. A flyway barrier measuring 6 feet in height must be constructed along any part of
a property line within 20 feet of a beehive, as measured from the nearest point of
any hive to the property line. A flyway barrier is defined as a solid or closely
slatted fence (no more than three inches between slats), wall, dense line of
vegetation, or combination thereof. Property owners shall be required to obtain a
fence permit from the Building Division if their flyway barrier exceeds 16 feet in
length.
c. Beekeepers must maintain a constant supply of water (ex: birdbath, chicken
waterer, etc.) on their property.
4. License
a. No person shall keep any honey bees nor construct any beekeeping structures
without first obtaining a residential beekeeping license through the City Clerk-
Treasurer.
b. Fee. An initial application fee of $50.00 shall be paid to the City by the applicant
when the initial application is filed. An annual license renewal fee of$25.00 shall
be paid to the City by the applicant each year thereafter. The license year shall
be January 1 through December 31. There shall be no proration for a license
issued for less than a full year.
c. Application. The application for the residential beekeeping license shall be made
using such forms required by the City's Clerk-Treasurer. If the applicant is not
the owner of the parcel, the property owner must sign the application certifying
approval for the use of the premises for this purpose. The property owner's
signature must be notarized.
5. Inspections
a. City of Janesville inspectors may enter the rear yard of a residential zoned lot at
any reasonable time to determine if a property is in compliance with the
provisions of this chapter.
b. A re-inspection fee of$100.00 shall be charged by the City against and paid by
the property owner if the violation is not corrected by the re-inspection date.
$100.00 will be charged for each subsequent re-inspection until full compliance is
achieved. Re-inspection fees that are not timely paid shall be entered upon the
tax roll as a special charge against the lot or parcel of land, pursuant to the
provisions of Sec. 66.0627, Wis. Stats.
ADOPTED: April 8, 2019 Motion by: Marklein
Second by: Conley _
APPROVED: Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Conley X
Farrell X
Mark A. reitag, City Manager Gruber X
Jorgensen X
ATTES / Marklein X
• Williams X
- f der 7 Wolfe X
Da d T. Godek, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Assistant City Attorney, Tim Wellnitz
Proposed by: Sustainable Janesville Committee
Prepared by: Operations Division