County may approve residential beekeeping
By Kyle LoJacono
The Hillsborough County Commission took a step toward approving residential beekeeping.
Commissioners voted to explore changing the county’s land-use plan, which would allow people with homes on a quarter-acre of land or less to have up to two beehives. Those with additional land could have more.
Gary Ranker, president of the Florida State Beekeepers Association, was pleased with the commissioners’ decision.
“I’m optimistic this whole process is looking forward to a resolution where people can put bees in their backyards and have a real nice hobby and also do something good for the county,” Ranker said.
Commissioners did say some measures would need to be added to the land-use change to make sure neighbors, especially those with young children, are safe from bees.
Jerry Hayes, chief of the apiary section of the Florida Department of Agriculture, said having more beekeepers could be a positive thing not only for those who crave honey, but also for the environment.
“Beekeepers raise European honeybees, not the more aggressive Africanized bees,” Hayes said.
Hayes explained European bees — which can have as many as 60,000 insects per hive — were domesticated hundreds of years ago, a process that breeds a very docile animal that produces a lot of honey.
District 2 Commissioner Victor Crist, who represents Lutz and much of northern Hillsborough, was especially concerned with how close the hives could be to neighbors.
“What if someone sprays the hive with something,” Crist said. “What could happen?”
Crist said he would like beekeeping to be limited to people who have at least 20,000 square feet of land, with the hives near the center to limit contact with other people. He also wants people in neighboring properties to be notified when bees are being kept near them.
Beekeeping proponents disagree with Crist’s proposal.
“Sizing the lot at 20,000 square feet would basically knock it out of most residential areas,” said association member Becky Weliczko.
Commissioners agreed to force those keeping bees in residential areas to register with the state and have their hives inspected, that is if they approve the land-use change. They would also have to keep beehives 25 feet from property lines, or just 10 feet if there is a 6-foot-high fence or hedge around the lot.
In neighboring Pasco, beekeeping can only be done in areas zoned for agriculture, according to county Extension Agnet BJ Jarvis. Ordinancies may change based on city governments.
Hayes said many people incorrectly believe all bees are overly aggressive, but only the Africanized variety have earned the nickname “killer bees.”
“Africanized bees originally lived in a portion of south Africa that had a lot of predators and other bugs that competed with them for food,” Hayes said. “Because of that, they are very, very aggressive.”
Africanized bees also produce much less honey because the colony eats more of the product to fuel their fast metabolism and aggressive behavior.
Africanized bees were first brought to South America in 1957 and later came to Florida via boats with fruit shipments, according to Hayes. The more aggressive variety, along with other environmental pressures, has effectively wiped out wild European bees.
“Having more people keeping European honeybees will give the Africanized bees competition, and that could keep their population in check,” Hayes said. “Also, if European drones (male bees) mate with queens from African hives, that could make them less aggressive. That might help bring some balance back and help pollinate natural and cultivated plants.”
Hayes said the number of beekeepers in the state has increased from 600 to 2,100 during the last five years, which produce 17 million pounds of honey annually.
County planners are asking for suggestions at a public hearing on Sept. 15. The commissioners would make a final vote at a Nov. 3 meeting.
Those interested in learning how to start their own beehives can find information on the Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association’s website, www.tampabaybeekeepers.com. Additional information is available at the state’s agriculture department’s website at www.freshfromflorida.com.
Holloway’s Farm Supply, 3030 US 41 in Land O’ Lakes, also has supplies to help people start beekeeping, as well as information for the novice honey enthusasit. For more information, call (813) 949-6809.
