LA City Council Approves Draft Proposal To Allow Hobbyist Beekeepers To Maintain Hives

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a draft proposal to allow hobbyist beekeepers to maintain hives in their backyards, paving the way for the approval of a final ordinance at a future meeting.

Council members reviewed the ordinance during a meeting at 10 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles.

Under the proposal, beekeeping would be allowed in single-family backyards in Los Angeles. Beekeepers would need to maintain a water source and to raise walls or hedges so bees will not venture to neighbors' property to get hydrated.

Councilman Jose Huizar said he and his staff have worked on the ordinance with bee experts for a full year.

Still, some residents are concerned that bees will venture from their hives into surrounding properties.

The council's action today directed the city attorney's office to finalize the language of  a final ordinance that will be voted on at a future meeting.

By legalizing backyard beekeping, L.A. will join Santa Monica, New York City and Denver, Colorado.

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