Clarksville Stops Short Of Banning Honeybee Hives, But Votes To Limit Them

Clarksville might make it difficult for homeowners of smaller lots to own honeybee hives. Credit: Peter Shanks via Flickr

Update: Friday, June 6, 2014

According to the Leaf Chronicle, Clarksville’s city council unanimously passed a resolution that would limit the number of honeybee hives homeowners can keep in their back yards, depending on lot size. But the resolution is far less restrictive than the one originally proposed, which would have reclassified bees as livestock.

The resolution that passed does stipulate that hives would have to be at least 50 feet from a neighbors lot, but the original proposal would have required that hives be 200 feet from all property lines. Since few urban properties are that big, this would have effectively banned beekeeping for most Clarksville residents.

This was not a final vote on the matter. The resolution will have to be reviewed by the planning commission — and brought before the council again — before it would become law.

Original post, from Thursday, June 5:

Tonight Clarksville’s city council is considering if residents should still be allowed to own honeybees. The issue came up because of a neighbor’s complaint about beekeeping near her home.

The city is looking at a resolution to reclassify honeybees, shifting them from insects to livestock. If honeybees are considered livestock, they will legally require 200 feet of land on all sides. Critics say this will make it impossible for homeowners of smaller lots to have beehives.

Honeybees are generally not considered dangerous, and are good for pollinating gardens. In contrast to Clarksville’s resolution, the state of Tennessee has supported beekeeping in the past, approving legislation in 1995 to appoint an official to educate the public on honeybee keeping.