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Commissioners back changes to beekeeping rules after expert testimony
Summary
The commission agreed to forward beekeeping-rule changes — including a 20-foot setback, removal of a flyway barrier requirement, elimination of residential signage, and fee-timing changes — after staff explained the rationale and a Plymouth beekeeper described recent colony losses.
The Planning Commission discussed and advanced proposed changes to Plymouth's beekeeping rules as part of the 2026 code update package.
"We did change the setback… we increased to 20 feet for the hives from the lot line, and we got rid of the flyway barrier," said Sean Drill, planning staff, describing the specific edits adopted in the draft. Staff also said residential signage requirements were removed and the licensing fee schedule was simplified so applicants pay once and renew without an additional fee.
During the public hearing, Anne Pierce, a Plymouth resident who the staff acknowledged as a local bee expert, described severe hive losses and cited recent regional impacts. "I had 2 hives… and we lost all 4 of them," Pierce said, and she told commissioners that commercial beekeepers reported "tremendous losses last year" in the range of 52 to 62 percent. Pierce urged attention to pollinator health when the city considers beekeeping standards.
Staff said the beekeeping changes were intended to address practical enforcement problems, align setbacks with rules for chickens, and remove rules that offered little enforcement benefit (signage and the flyway barrier). The amendments will move forward as part of the ordinance recommendation to the City Council.
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