Food Policy - Hobby Beekeeping (Urban Apiculture) in Vancouver

Hobby Beekeeping - Background In July 2005, the Food Policy staff team presented a Report to City Council (PDF, 107KB) that requested an amendment to the Health Bylaw to allow for hobby beekeeping within the City of Vancouver. In addition to approving the Health Bylaw amendment, a set of Hobby Beekeeping Guidelines (PDF, 67KB) were adopted outlining good management practices for beekeeping in residential areas. Urban hobby beekeeping provides increased biodiversity and pollination for plants in backyard, community and public gardens. Cities in Europe and North America (including several municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District) support hobby beekeeping of honeybees within city limits. Through good management practices, hobby beekeeping is a safe and suitable activity for residential areas. Beekeepers in Vancouver must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. The City of Vancouver guidelines (PDF, 67KB) include key recommendations, such as limiting the number of beehives per residential property to 2 and ensuring a 6 foot high fence or hedge surrounds the property. A tall fence forces the honeybees to fly up higher as soon as they depart the hive, thus minimizing the interaction between bees and pedestrians. Beekeepers must also register the apiary location in Vancouver with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. City Hall Bees In the Spring of 2010 the City of Vancouver installed two bee hives on the roof of City Hall. Bees are being tended to by a professional beekeeper. Beekeeping is one of the many things that the City is doing to 'walk the talk' in developing a resilient local food practice.

CONTACT INFORMATION To control a bee swarm - or for more information on beekeeping - please call one of the following Hobby Beekeepers in Vancouver: Cal Easter 604.879.8574 Little Mountain / Riley Park Allan Garr 604.736.4184 Kitsilano / West Point Grey Willie Gunther 604.874.2684 Riley Park / Mount Pleasant Janice Bennett 604.266.3331 Kerrisdale / Dunbar Southlands BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Provincial Apiculturist Paul van Westendorp Phone: 604.556.3129 Regional Apiary Inspector Jacquie Bunse Phone: 604.521.4493

A Note about Bee Swarming:

Honeybees swarm as part of their natural life cycle from late April to early June. Swarming occurs when approximately half the colony departs the hive with a queen to create a new honeybee colony. The colony follows the queen, usually not more than 100 feet in a densely populated area. Honeybees will usually land on a tree or in any area where they can find a hollow shelter. Bees are not aggressive during swarming; however, the presence of a swarm can be frightening to people who do not expect it. Experienced beekeepers can gather a swarm fairly easily. The Provincial Apiculturist and Apiary Inspector are both accustomed to handling swarms and also keep a “swarm list” of other local beekeepers who will manage swarms in their neighbourhoods. If you see a swarm, please contact a local beekeeper on the list above and they will assist.

Further information on Honeybees:

• Honeybees are social insects with a marked division of labour between the various castes of bees in a colony. A colony of honeybees includes a queen, drones and worker.
• Honeybees gather nectar to produce honey.
• While they are gathering nectar from plants, pollen grains are also transported on their bodies, leading to pollination of other plants.
• Over the last 90 million years, flowering plants and bees have co-evolved, creating a complete interdependence between the two.
• The presence of honeybees in the city can increase harvests for backyard, street, rooftop and community gardens.
• It is estimated that the pollination services provided by honeybees are often 60 to 100 times more valuable than the market price of honey.
• Honeybees will only sting humans if they are on the defensives. Wasps on the other hand, are aggressive carnivores and will sting as they hunt for food.
• Bees are vegetarians who find their food source from pollen producing plants and nectar, not summer picnics and barbeques.

» View the City of Vancouver Guidelines on Hobby Beekeeping (PDF, 67KB)
» View the City fact sheet on beekeeping (PDF, 109KB)
» View the City backgrounder on bee swarming (PDF, 50KB)

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