Resident urges Apple Valley to allow residential beekeeping, cites surrounding cities' ordinances

Katherine Connelly, an Apple Valley resident since 2022, urged the City Council on April 23 to change the City Code to allow residential beekeeping. Connelly said the city currently classifies honeybees as farm animals, which prohibits hives on residential properties, and asked the council to adopt a ‘common-sense’ ordinance with permit, education and placement requirements.

Connelly cited neighboring Dakota County cities — Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Lakeville and Rosemount — as examples that allow hobby beekeeping with conditions such as permits, fees, accredited training components and minimum hive placement from property lines and neighbors. “Allowing for safe, common sense residential beekeeping continues this commitment to protect pollinator species and enrich our local ecosystem,” she said.

Connelly told the council she and other residents value Apple Valley’s tree and green-space initiatives and said beekeeping supports education and local ecosystems; she also noted misconceptions about nuisance and safety can be addressed through ordinance requirements. After her remarks, staff asked for contact information to follow up and to help coordinate next steps.

The council did not take immediate action or introduce an ordinance at the meeting; Connelly said she looks forward to working with the city to “ameliorate concerns” and develop workable regulations. City staff indicated they would follow up to collect contact information for Connelly and others interested in the issue.