Mary Beth Blauser

March 26, 2010

On March 16, 2010, New York City lifted its ban on beekeeping. The long-standing New York City Health Department ban on beekeeping labeled bees as "wild animals." This classification placed bees in a group with other "wild animals" such as bears, gorillas, and giraffes. The rationale for banning beekeeping was to keep citizens safe and reduce the risk of bee stings throughout the city by reducing the overall population of bees.

However, this ban did not deter all devoted beekeepers from their hives. It is estimated that 650 Big Apple beekeepers operated their hives illegally during the ban. Many beekeepers kept their hives on rooftops to avoid detection from neighbors. If caught, the fine for harboring a "wild animal" is $2,000.

The New York City Health Department lifted the ban after pressure from increasing awareness of the honeybee crisis. The importance of honeybees cannot be understated, and with dwindling numbers it is critical to take action to bolster the honeybee population. The number of colonies has decreased by 30 percent over the past few winters. This reduction has been felt throughout the agriculture world, which depends on honeybees for pollination. In 2009 California almond producers scrambled to find enough hives to pollinate their orchards. Without the honeybees, the producers' crop would fail.

The plight of the honeybee has not gone unnoticed. Last year the environmentally-conscious Haagen-Dazs launched the "Haagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees" campaign. The goal of this campaign is to "help keep the hobby and the hive alive and buzzing." Haagen-Dazs publicly advocated for the New York City ban to be lifted. Lifting the ban would help pollinate local gardens and also "help the honeybee population's genetic diversity." Dennis vanEnglesdrop, Haagen-Dazs board member stated that "By allowing New York City residents to keep bees without penalty, more people will be encouraged to take up this hobby that's both rewarding and important for our troubled bee population."

Even First Lady Michelle Obama has supported the honeybee movement by approving the installation of a hive at the White House. Many people attribute the publicity from First Lady Obama and Haagen-Dazs to social awareness of the honeybee crisis, thus leading to New York City lifting the ban.

Contrary to rumors, a license will not be needed in New York City to tend to a hive of bees. The requirements include notifying the city of the placement of the hive, providing access to fresh clean water, and choosing a location that will not become a "public nuisance". The inclusion of the "public nuisance" language could lead to future complaints by pesky neighbors, or perhaps even litigation. But for the time being, New York City beekeepers can enjoy this sweet victory. New York City now joins other progressive cities such as Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco that already allow urban beekeeping.

Sources:

Paul Bedard, Michelle Obama Goes Organic and Brings in the Bees, US News & World Report, March 28, 2009. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/03/28/ michelle-obama-goes-organic-and-brings-in-the-bees.html.

Crystal Gammon, Sweet News: New York City Dumps Beekeeping Ban, OneEarth, March 16, 2010, http://www.onearth.org/article/sweet-news-new-york-city-dumps-beekeeping-ban.

Kathleen Lucadamo, New York City Board of Health Revokes Ban on Urban Beekeeping; Rooftop Hives Get OK, N.Y. Daily News, March 16, 2009, http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_ local /2010 /03/16/2010-03 16_new_york_city_board_of_health _revokes_ban_on_urban _beekeeping_rooftop_hives_get_.html.

Kathleen Lucadamo, New York Health Department to End Ban on Keeping Honeybees, New York Daily News, Dec. 18, 2009, http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/18/2009-12-18_hivefive_city_to_end_beekeeping_ban.html.

Suzzanne Ma, NYC Beekeepers Swarm City Hall to Protest Bee Ban, Huffington Post, June 23, 2009, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/23/nyc-beekeepers-swarm-city_n_219702.html.

Jane Ridley, How to 'Bee' a New Yorker: City Rooftops and Gardens are a Hive of Activity, N.Y. Daily News, March 15, 2010, http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/03/16/2010-03-16_how_to_bee_a_new_yorker.html.

Press Release, Bee-Friendly Haagen-Dazs Brand Supports Proposed Overturn of New York City Beekeeping Ban, February 24, 2010.

24 RCNY Health Code § 161.01(b)(12) (2000).