Hobbies And Interests
Permit Requirements
Residents wishing to keep bees must apply for a permit with the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control. All applicants must have written consent to keep bees from occupants living directly adjacent to the property where the hives will be located. In addition, applicants must receive consent from 80 percent of occupants with property located within 100 feet from the hives. As of 2010, an initial application fee of $100 is required. An annual renewal fee of $50, along with a yearly inspection of the site, will be required in the future.
Property Requirements
Beekeepers will be required to erect a latching fence around the property where the hive is located. If the hive stands less than 25 feet from the property line, a flyaway barrier must be constructed. It should be a minimum of 6 feet high. The flyaway barrier directs the bees quickly into the sky and away from pedestrians. It can be composed of dense vegetation or man-made materials, so long as the bees are forced to fly over the structure.
Standards of Practice
Standards of beekeeping must be closely adhered to. Three key practices include: maintaining a local source of water for the bees, using a hive with removable frames and monitoring of colony density.
Importance of Bees
Scientists have discovered that up to 90 percent of wild honey bees in the United States have died off recently. The pollination activity of honey bees is responsible for up to one third of food production in North America. Beekeeping in urban and rural areas combats this die off and ensures human food supplies.