§ 90.070. APIARIES; PERMIT REQUIRED.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, control, harbor or maintain within the city limits any bees, hives or boxes containing hives, except in an approved apiary in agriculturally zoned areas without first obtaining a Hobby Beekeeper Permit for that purpose from the Lead Animal Control Officer for the City of Columbus or designee. No single permit shall be issued for more than one parcel upon which bees are to be maintained.

(B) Application for each permit shall include the name of the individual responsible for the keeping of bees; the current address of that individual, provided that if at any time during the life of the permit the individual relocates, such information shall be transmitted to the City ten days prior to such relocation; the common address or legal description of the parcel comprising the apiary and on which the bees will be kept; the number of hives or boxes containing hives the applicant intends to maintain on that parcel. The application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee as set by resolution. Following receipt of the application and fee by the Lead Animal Control Officer or designee, an inspection of the proposed apiary will be conducted to ensure compliance with the conditions established herein and a nontransferable revocable permit shall be issued to the applicant which, unless revoked for noncompliance with the conditions, shall remain in effect until such time as the applicant discontinues or alters, from the application, the beekeeping activity. Seasonal adjustments for weather shall not be construed as discontinuation or alteration of apiary activity, provided that failure to actively engage in beekeeping activity on the parcel for a period in excess of six calendar months, for any reason, shall be so construed.

(C) The Hobby Beekeeper Permit is nontransferable to any other apiary location or to any other person.

(Ord. 14-07, passed 8-4-14)