Beekeepers in Revelstoke, B.C., are concerned they may feel the sting of the law, after the city in southeast B.C. introduced a draft update to its bylaws.
The city, about 155 kilometres east of Kamloops, released a 265-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 Glaves, who owns BeeKind Honey Bees, says the way the rules are written shows a lack of understanding from the city towards bees.
“They’re industrious, they’re focused on collecting for the hive, and they’re really gentle and easy to work with,” he says.
Now, Glaves and 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 (43,056 sq. ft.) to keep bees.
“We’re hoping that’s a typo,” Glaves said, adding that lot size is 10 times bigger than that of the average city lot in Revelstoke.
Melissa Hemphill keeps honeybees on the roof of her garage. She says it’s safe and convenient, and it wouldn’t be allowed the way the new rules are written. (Meagan Deuling/CBC)
The rules further state hives 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, Glaves said, 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.
Glaves, who started as a hobbyist in 2013, says he uses best practices.
“I really tried to promote responsible beekeeping knowing we [didn’t] have a bee bylaw,” he said.
John Hordyk keeps his hives in the front yard, as he doesn’t have a backyard. His hives would be contravening the new rules as they’re currently written. (Meagan Deuling/CBC)
John Hordyk, another hobbyist who keeps hives enclosed in an electric fence in his front yard, said he 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 and Tyler and Susie Kathol agreed.
The Kathols keep hives on the roof of their carport.
“It’s like we have tens of thousands of little bee pets, especially when you’re building a big garden,” Susie Kathol said. “You want things to be really pollinating.”
Nora Hughes is learning how to keep honeybees. Her backyard isn’t big enough for the hives, according to the city’s proposed rules. (Meagan Deuling/CBC)
Revelstoke is a designated Bee City, meaning it’s committed to eliminating toxic chemicals and promoting gardens beneficial to pollinators, said Amanda 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.”
Susie Kathol keeps honeybees on the roof of her carport, which wouldn’t be allowed under the new rules. (Meagan Deuling/CBC)
City says bylaws can be updated
Paul Simon, Revelstoke’s lead planner, said it 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 Revelstoke City Hall as pictured last year. The city’s lead planner said the city would consult with beekeepers as it works to update the bylaws. (Winston Szeto/CBC)
The planner said the 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.”