There is something new to “buzz” about in the Borough of Lansdale. The addition and guidance surrounding owning your own bees is now a part of the law books, so if you’ve ever wanted to have your own bees or hives, you are now in luck.
During Wednesday night’s borough council meeting, Councilman Rich DiGregorio proposed a motion to adopt Ordinance 1938, allowing bee keeping within Borough limits. The newly drafted article, labeled “IV” in the borough’s animal ordinance chapter, was simply called “Bees.” The six-page addition outlines a subsection for the “maintenance and keeping of bees in borough limits.”
In the article, which was adopted unanimously by council, the rulings take into consideration the “health, safety, and welfare” of all residents in making such a decision. While no public comment was heard for or against the matter during the offered time, council had no qualms about including the new “animals” into the fold.
Beekeeper Sher Warkentin, of Natural Products, said that such allowances will be a great health benefit for local residents.
“When it comes to honey, not only are you helping the planet (and community business), you’re helping yourself too,” she said in a recent article for Tom’s of Maine.
Fighting one’s seasonal allergies is a very common benefit to locally sourced honey.
“Local bees make local honey, which means the pollen they collect and bring back to the hive is all sourced from local plants,” said Warkentin. “Since many seasonal allergies are caused by these same plants, eating honey that contains that pollen can possibly combat those allergies.”
She also noted that local honey is often more pure than that you may find in a store.
“One of the great benefits of local honey is that it’s unprocessed and pure,” said Warkentin. “The stuff you find in the grocery store is often filtered, a process that removes the trace amounts of pollen it might contain. The purer the honey, the stronger its medical benefits, like potential anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.”
Lansdale Borough’s new inclusion was designed to recognize the importance of honeybees in the making of products such as honey, beeswax, and pollination of home gardens and agricultural services. Outlined regulations will require all potential beekeepers to first obtain permits from the borough, and to keep current in such permits, keepers must abide by the following:
The regulations don’t stop there. Local residents may only have two hives per 2,000 square feet of lot. Beekeepers must also keep and maintain bees in “modern, movable-frame hives,” which allows for examinations. Such procedures must be permitted to check for any bee disease.
Council also kept “good neighbors” rules in mind when forming the regulations, as well.
“To the extent possible, hive entrances shall face away from neighboring property and in such a direction that bees fly across the beekeeper’s property at sufficient distance to gain height of at least six feet at the property line,” reads the ruling.
Continued language outlines rules about keeping the bees fresh water during the peak season of April 1 to November 1, while other food must be available February 1 to May 31, keeping clear grounds, safe and healthy conditions, and being sure no such hives create a nuisance to others.
Residents may not, per the regulation, allow for Africanized honeybees at any time.
See also:
Lansdale Borough Votes To Reopen Pools July 1 With COVID-19 Restrictions
Lansdale District Court Provides Update on Hours, Services
Local Elected Officials Sign Statement Condemning ‘Racist Remarks’ Made By Commissioner Joe Gale
Lansdale Approves Farmers' Market Move to Ninth Street on June 6
