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Currently no Auckland Council approval is required to keep more than two beehives in an urban backyard – however that is under review.
This month Council put small changes to its Animal Management bylaw before the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board for feedback. It includes a proposal that urban residents should have to get Council approval to keep more than two standard beehives if their land area is less than 2000sqm.
Only 10 people from this local board area provided feedback on the proposals during public consultation, and most of those opposed to the changes do not want the rules around beehives tightened. However, local board members asked Council to tighten the rules even more, based on concerns about the impact of beekeeping on the general public – including bee poo on house windows.
The local board recommended that even one urban beehive should need approval and that there should be a suitable minimum distance between beehives and the property boundary “to avoid adverse effects on neighbouring properties and people, including those using Council reserves and walkways”.
Council will make a decision on the proposed changes in November.
