Need to Find a Home for 2 Hives

[Tor]

Hello fellow beeks!

Well, we started on the wonderful journey of beekeeping this year in Beaverton. Most of our neighbors either do not mind the bees in our back yard, or are real enthusiasts, going so far as to participate in keeping the bees. But one neighbor who did not know about them just became aware of them, and was extremely unhappy. We were reported to the city, who just sent us a letter telling us that keeping bees in the city is illegal (although I cannot find any ordinance stating this) and that we must remove the bees immediately.

My family would still like to care for and maintain our bees, as we have really enjoyed them. Is there anyone out there who isn't too far from south/central Beaverton interested in hosting our bees on your land? Both hives are very docile and great pollinators - we've had a bumper crop of blueberries this year. We're just in a pickle, as we've been told to move them immediately, and haven't a clue where we could move them *to*.

If you are potentially interested, you can email me at "torandlisa" at gmail.

Thanks for any offers and for any commiserating. It's a bummer of a situation. Just keep in mind for future reference that bee keeping IS illegal in the city of Beaverton.

[bugleman]

If you can't find the ordinace you could request written evidence of thier authority to make you move the bees. Usually that would be in the form of a statute citation.

[Dan B]

Looks like ordinance 5.05.025 states no livestock or poultry within the city limits of Beaverton. My guess would be that this is the ordinance that the city is saying makes your bees illegal.

[alisafaulk]

Aug 1, 2010 13:31:01 GMT -7 @Dan B said:

Looks like ordinance 5.05.025 states no livestock or poultry within the city limits of Beaverton. My guess would be that this is the ordinance that the city is saying makes your bees illegal.

I thought bees were insects, not livestock ;D. Call the city and ask for the specific ordance before you do anything.

Alisa

[bugleman]

The state defines bees as livestock. That would be the overriding interpration.

[Paul Andersen]

It could fall under the nuisance ordinance. Keep in mind that there are pockets of unincorporated Washington county all around Beaverton, the Nike and Tektronix areas are examples. Nike has an employee vegetable garden area for employees to use across from their campus, they like to PO Beaverton.

Also note that Beaverton is about to change their ordinance to allow chickens, I think this may be a good time to start working on getting the bee ban changed.

[alisafaulk]

Aug 10, 2010 22:35:59 GMT -7 Paul Andersen said:

It could fall under the nuisance ordinance. Keep in mind that there are pockets of unincorporated Washington county all around Beaverton, the Nike and Tektronix areas are examples. Nike has an employee vegetable garden area for employees to use across from their campus, they like to PO Beaverton.

Also note that Beaverton is about to change their ordinance to allow chickens, I think this may be a good time to start working on getting the bee ban changed.

The chickens passed! I was apparently way off on my insect theory, but it would be worth pressing the issue and asking that they cite the ordinance that makes them illiegal.

Alisa