Between 20, hornet, wasp, and bee stings accounted for 1.4 deaths per 10 million Americans each year, according to a study published in “Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.”īoston’s beekeeping regulations would still apply if hives were allowed citywide. Bee stings are uncommon, and fatal bee stings are rare. He said he hopes allowing beekeeping will “open up that world to people.”Įnthusiasts say bees are docile unless threatened, and that it’s common practice for beekeepers to consult with neighbors in the case of allergies or phobias. “The beauty of these winged angels is really a universe in of itself,” Perkins said. In 2013, the city simplified zoning rules related to urban agriculture and tried to make them easier to understand, but beekeeping still required a zoning variance in most neighborhoods.īill Perkins, copresident of the Boston Area Beekeepers Association, who estimates that 120 clients purchase bees from his farm shop Agricultural Hall each year, said some prospective hobbyists back out when they learn of the restrictions. In large portions of Back Bay, South Boston, the North End, and downtown Boston, beekeepers can operate under certain conditions. So it’s allowed in a few districts that historically have had sizeable butcher shops, including Chinatown and parts of South Boston, West Roxbury, Allston-Brighton, and Dorchester. “These bee clubs are predominantly white because they’re in areas where they have homes, they have land, and are suburban or rural.”īeekeeping has long been forbidden in most parts of Boston under the zoning code, which has historically grouped beekeeping with the farming of other livestock such as hens. Mayo is one of the only Black beekeepers she knows of in Boston. Historically, Black residents are less likely to own property or to be able to afford the hobby’s steep equipment and training fees they’re also more likely to live in urban areas with beekeeping restrictions. The current ban dissuades potential beekeepers from trying out a hobby that reaps ecological benefits for Boston’s urban landscape, enthusiasts said.Īnd for Black beekeepers such as Mayo, the zoning code is just another barrier. With the proposed changes, she said, “the only reason why you would need special permission is if you’re trying to do something a little different, or you need permission for more hives.” “Our zoning code is a nightmare for people to understand and really get right,” Louijeune said. The ordinance, which needs approval from the council, the mayor, and the Zoning Commission, would also raise the maximum number of hives allowed from two to three. At the council’s meeting on Wednesday, Louijeune introduced a proposal to strip the beekeeping ban out of the city zoning code so that anyone can keep bees in any neighborhood. Now, at the urging of Mayo, 63, and other local beekeepers, City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune wants to end those restrictions.
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