I know.... this ain't Florida.
BEES MAY BE KEPT IN CITIES and VILLAGES: In April, 1901, the
council of the city of Rochester, N.Y., passed an ordinance
prohibiting the keeping of bees within the city limits. W. R.
Taunton, who refused to remove his apiary, was arrested and brought
before a police court. The judge set aside the ordinance and the
defendant was discharged. The latter was defended by the counsel of
the National Beekeepers' Association. In the Butchers' Union Co. vs.
Cresent City Co. (111 U.S. 746), Justice Fields says: "The common
business and callings of life, the ordinary trades and pursuits,
which are innocent in themselves, and have been followed in all
communities from time immemorial, must therefore, be free in this
country to all alike on equal terms. The right to pursue them
without let or hindrance, except that which is applied to all
persons of the same age, sex, and condition, is a distinguishing
privilege which they claim as their birthright." In the same case
Judge Gradley says: " I hold that the liberty of pursuit, the right
to follow any of the ordinary callings of life, is one of the
privileges of a citizen of the United states, of which he can not be
deprived without invading this right to liberty within the meaning
of the constitution." It may be well to state in this connection
that the National Beekeepers' Association frequently undertakes to
defend its members in a court of law where the circumstances warrant
the assistance of this influential body.
1. Bees are a hobby which can be helpful to the community.
2. When a bee keeper is allowed to keep bees (limited to no more
than 2 hives) on his or her property there is a significant result.
3. Honeybees will drive hornets and un-wanted bees from the village.
4. Villages without an ordinance against beekeepers have a notable
major downsizing of hornets in the community.
5. It is the right of any citizen to engage in his or her hobby if
they can show they are not infringing on their neighbors right and
or property.
6. Honeybees do not invade houses or harass neighbors but stick to
the business of pollinating and collecting for the hive. They do not
act like hornets that will sting for no apparent reason.
7. Honeybees have to be provoked to sting by a serious threat to
their hive.
8. Placing a 6 foot fence around a hive setting will keep all bees
in a flight path above any pedestrian traffic and keep neighbors out
of the hive.
9. If a limited amount of bees (be it hobby) are not allowed due to
the danger (and I question danger) , then many of the other business
ventures or hobbies in a village should be considered as well,
otherwise there is a discrimination violation which can be up-held
in court.
10. Hobbies not limited to the use of spray varnish, dusting garden
plants with toxic chemicals, hobbies that produce noise pollution,
hobbies and businesses which alter the natural ecology would need to
be closed or halted. Many hobbies and business ventures do cause
harm to the environment and if bees are not allowed many other
hobbies need to be closed as well or there would be a discriminatory
case involved.
11. Gardens would not need to be dusted with a hive placed by them.
The honeybees would remove pests and significantly increase the
gardens output.
In closing,