As a backyard beekeeper, you can be invaluable in fighting the honeybee colony decline. You will play a critical role in maintaining a healthy honeybee population in the future with just a few colonies. You will be keeping bees, having the gentle European ancestry, and helping to combat the spread of the more defensive Africanized bees. As a Beekeeper, and through your dedication to the honeybee, you can help manage and protect this valuable resource.
Before you add a hive in your back yard, you need to look at your state’s laws and regulations concerning beehives and apiaries. If you have a Home Owners Association, you will need to check their regulations as well. In Florida, you must register your hive once your bees arrive. The reason for registration and regulation is to protect the bees and prevent spreading disease and pests to other colonies in your area. Should you feel the need, the next thing is to get in contact with your local Beekeeper Association. These associations are available to mentor novices and serve as a resources for inexperienced beekeepers.
Before you add a hive in your back yard, you need to look at your state’s laws and regulations concerning beehives and apiaries. If you have a Home Owners Association, you will need to check their regulations as well. In Florida, you must register your hive once your bees arrive. The reason for registration and regulation is to protect the bees and prevent spreading disease and pests to other colonies in your area. Should you feel the need, the next thing is to get in contact with your local Beekeeper Association. These associations are available to mentor novices and serve as a resources for inexperienced beekeepers.
Before adding bees you need to research, research, research. Jill and I searched the internet watching videos on YouTube and reading articles before we ordered our first colony of bees. Anytime we had a question, we would search the internet. Jill subscribed to the American Bee Journal magazine. It is packed full of great information concerning bees. We have found that most of the information is from northern beekeepers. In most cases the principles are about the same. Being in Central Florida, the hives can thrive almost 10 months out of the year or more.
The main responsibility you will have is maintaining a healthy hive. The top three killers of bees are agriculture chemicals, diseases and loss of habitat. Pests, like the hive beetle and ants, can cause a colony to evacuate the entire hive.
Should you use chemicals in your yard, you need to be aware of what you are using, how it is applied and when to apply it.
When it comes to diseases, the latest research shows that probiotics can strengthen the bees to make them more resistant to disease. The most common and widespread disease for the honeybee is nosemosis. Probiotics can decrease the mortality rate of this infection in bees.
Finally, to address the loss of habitat, become a Pollinator contributor. Start planting pollinating plants, trees and shrubs. Obviously your bees will not stay in your yard, but adding pollen and nectar producers increases the habitat for all pollinators and not just those in your backyard.
For Florida, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry has a Management Best Practices for residential beekeeping.
The colony density limits in areas not classified as agricultural pursuant to Section 193.461, Florida Statutes, below, minimize potential conflict between people and honey bees and beekeepers following the BMRs outlined in this document. The honey bee colony requirements /densities may not be exceeded except under a special permit issued by the Director of the Division of Plant Industry in accordance with the requirements of Rule 5B-54.0105(3), F.A.C.
- The placement of honey bee colonies on non-agricultural private lands must agree to and adhere to the following stipulations:
- When a colony is situated within 15 feet of a property line, the beekeeper must establish and maintain a flyway barrier at least 6 feet in height consisting of a solid wall, fence, dense vegetation or combination thereof that is parallel to the property line and extends beyond the colony in each direction.
- All properties, or portions thereof, where the honey bee colonies are located must be fenced, or have an equivalent barrier to prevent access, and have a gated controlled entrance to help prevent unintended disturbance of the colonies.
- No honey bee colonies may be placed on public lands including schools, parks, and other similar venues except by special permit letter issued by the Director of the Division of Plant Industry and written consent of the property owner.
2. Honey bee colony densities on non-agricultural private land are limited to the following property size to colony ratios:
- One quarter acre or less tract size – 3 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to six colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- More than one-quarter acre, but less than one-half acre tract size – 6 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to 12 colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- More than one-half acre, but less than one acre tract size – 10 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to 20 colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- One acre up to two and a half acres – 15 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to 30 colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- Two and a half to five acres – 25 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to 50 colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- Five up to ten acres – 50 colonies. Colony numbers may be increased up to 100 colonies as a swarm control measure for not more than a 60 day period of time.
- Ten or more acres – 100 colonies. The number of colonies shall be unlimited provided all colonies are at least 150 feet from property lines.
3. Beekeepers must provide a convenient source of water on the property that is available to the bees at all times so that the bees do not congregate at unintended water sources.
4. Beekeepers must visually inspect all honey bee colonies a minimum of once a month to assure reasonable colony health including adequate food and colony strength. If upon inspection honey bees appear to be overly aggressive the beekeeper shall contact their assigned apiary inspector for an assessment.
5. Re-queen collected swarms, new colonies and maintain colonies with queens or queen cells from EHB queen producer(s).
6. Practice reasonable swarm prevention techniques as referenced in University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension document “Swarm Control for Managed Beehives”, ENY 160, published November 2012.
7. Do not place apiaries within 150 feet of tethered or confined animals or public places where people frequent. (Examples – day care centers, schools, parks, parking lots, etc.)
8. Do not place colonies in an area that will impede ingress or egress by emergency personnel to entrances to properties and buildings.
9. Deed restrictions and covenants that prohibit or restrict the allowance for managed honey bee colonies within their established jurisdictions take precedence and as a result supersede the authority and requirements set forth in Chapter 586 Florida Statutes and Rule Chapter 5B-54, Florida Administrative Code.
For questions about beekeeping, please feel free to contact us or give us a call at (407) 459-4497.