Ord. No. 2017-13. Amend Chapter 8.28, "Bees" of the San Mateo Municipal Code.

WHEREAS, San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 8.28, "Bees, renders it difficult to maintain beekeeping and apiaries within the City on single family properties and is in conflict with the increased interest of members of the public; and

WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to Chapter 8.28, Bees, of the San Mateo Municipal Code are intended to make it easier to maintain bees in the City; and

WHEREAS, on September 14, 2017, the San Mateo Sustainability Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and recommended that the proposed amendment to Chapter 8.28 of the San Mateo Municipal Code be adopted by City Council; and

WHEREAS, on October 16, 2017 the City Council considered the proposed amendments;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, ORDAINS that:

Chapter 8.28 BEES

8.28.010 KEEPING OF BEES - CONDITIONS.

A. Adequate Water Source Required

All properties on which beehives are kept must provide for adequate water sources on the property at all times of year and must ensure that they do not become a mosquito-breeding site. Adequate sources are ones that provide both an amount of fresh water necessary for the amount of bees or beehives and a method for the bees to be able to gain a good footing to obtain the water.

B. Flyway Required.

Beekeepers shall manage the direction and angle of the bee flyway from the entrance of the hive by properly siting and orienting the hives and by using flyway barriers as needed to modify the angle in order to keep the flyway over the beekeeper's property until the bees are flying eight or more feet above the ground

8.28.020 NUISANCE WHEN.

No person shall manage bees under such conditions as to create a source of constant annoyance or discomfort to any person.

The foregoing ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of San Mateo, State of California by the following vote:

ATTEST: