On Tuesday, May 14th, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an urgency ordinance regarding beekeeping in Nevada County. The Board of Supervisors heard public testimony from many Nevada County Beekeepers who have over the years' experienced a rapid decline in the health of their hives as well as a reduction of honey production. The passage of this ordinance will allow both recreational and commercial beekeepers the ability to enjoy the many benefits that beekeeping provides.
The new ordinance will now require a 2-mile buffer between new commercial apiary locations as well as limit the number of hives per location to 48 hives during the nectar flow season of (May 15th through October 15th). In addition, beekeepers will now be required to provide water for their hives either naturally or artificially.
The enforcement of this ordinance will be done through the Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner's Office. Beekeepers are reminded that State law already requires the registration of your apiary with the local County Agricultural Commissioner's Office. For further details or questions, please contact the Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner's Office at 530-470-2690.
