READING, Pa. – Reading City Council on Monday held a required public hearing of a proposed zoning amendment which will add regulations for honeybee apiaries and permit them in all zoning districts, providing they are compliant with the Pennsylvania Bee Law.
Planning Director Simon Wangolo said the planning staff has been discussing a beekeeping ordinance since 2024 to determine if it is viable in the city of Reading.
“This ordinance was going between various departments who were reviewing it, with the planning commission recommending it to City Council,” Wangolo said.
Bethany Ayers Fisher, the city’s sustainability manager, said the city does have some active apiaries, but they tend to be on large or commercial lots.
Reading City Council President Donna Reed says when it comes to keeping bees in the city, there needs to be some regulation.
However, she added that there are also residential bee aviaries, but the city doesn’t necessarily know where they are.
“With this kind of ordinance coming around, it is an opportunity to give our residents a chance where they can be able to interact with the agricultural aspect of their everyday life,” Ayers Fisher said.
The regulations in the proposed ordinance (see page 10) include:
Beekeepers must first register a permit for apiaries with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, followed by a city zoning permit.
Existing beekeepers who own pre-existing apiaries shall have six months to apply for a zoning permit.
Hives may not be located in a front yard and are not permitted within 10 feet of any buildings on adjacent properties.
Hives may not be located within 50 feet of a permitted swimming pool or a permitted kennel/animal shelter.
A maximum of two hives will be permitted on a minimum of 2,000 square feet of lot area.
For a property with less than 2,000 square feet, a beekeeper will be permitted to keep one hive on the condition consent is given from all adjacent property owners.
Cathy Curran-Myers, a member of the city’s Environmental Advisory Council, said the ordinance is a good neighbor solution to having city gardens well pollinated and visited by honeybees.
“The EAC does support this,” Curran-Myers said. “The city has 15 or more community gardens that need these kinds of pollinators. So, this would be a real benefit.”
Home occupation zoning permits
Also, as part of the public hearing, council was presented with a zoning amendment to require a fee of $150 for both major and minor home occupation zoning permits.
Both currently require a zoning permit, but the fee is waived for minor home occupations.
No members of the public made any comments on the proposed zoning amendments.
Council solicitor Michael Gombar said council will be asked to adopt both zoning amendments at the voting meeting on either Aug. 24 or Sept. 14.