If you are thinking about starting to keep bees in your backyard or if you are already a residential beekeeper in Oregon, we've got great news to share!

House Bill 2653 was created in 2015 by the State of Oregon to bring together well-educated beekeepers, community members, and government officials to ensure the stability of pollinator populations in urban areas.  The bill requires the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service to produce written Best Practices Guidelines that detail the best practices for residential beekeeping.  When applied, these practices are meant to maximize the benefits of beekeeping, reduce the risk of nuisance, and provide clear guidance on how to deal with nuisance issues if they arise.  Under HB 2653, all local city and county governments shall review their current beekeeping ordinances, and make any changes or additions to their ordinances by January 1, 2019.  They then must assess whether these guidelines, in conjunction with local nuisance ordinances, are sufficient to balance the needs of the public, property owners, and beekeepers.

To learn more about HB2653 and what it is all about, visit here.

For a copy of OSU's Residential Beekeeping Best-practice guidelines for nuisance-free beekeeping in Oregon, visit here.

We are proud to live in a state where educators, community members, beekeepers, and government officials can come together to discuss the importance of pollinators and work together to find solutions that work for all!