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BR-Mnitiated-Apiaries.doc 4/18/2024 <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII PLANNING DEPARTMENT <br /> BACKGROUND AND RECOMMENDATION <br /> COUNTY COUNCIL INITIATED BILL NO. 144 (PL-CCI-2024-000008) <br /> AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 4 AND 25 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE <br /> 1983 (2016 EDITION,AS AMENDED),RELATING TO APIARIES AND <br /> BEEKEEPING <br /> The County Council has referred Bill No. 144 to the Planning Director and the <br /> Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions for comments and recommendations. <br /> PURPOSE OF BILL NO. 144 <br /> 1. The Hawaii County Council has introduced Bill No. 144 (Planning Department <br /> Exhibit 1), which seeks to amend Chapter 4 (Animals) and Chapter 25 (Zoning) <br /> of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition, as amended) (hereinafter <br /> `HCC'),relating to apiaries and beekeeping. <br /> 2. The Hawaii County Council has found that bees play a vital role in supporting <br /> mankind, agriculture, and native ecosystems by pollinating food crops. In <br /> addition, bees provide useful products, such as honey, wax and queen bees, <br /> because Hawai`i's tropical weather, climate, and diverse plant life provide <br /> optimal conditions for year-round breeding of queen bees. Queen bees are <br /> exported to assist with ensuring a more genetically diverse, adaptive and resilient <br /> global bee stock. It is for these reasons that the Hawaii County Council has <br /> introduced Bill 144. The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage beekeeping in <br /> Hawaii County by defining standard apiary management practices for <br /> responsible and sustainable beekeeping, and by including apiaries in the list of <br /> permitted uses across various zoning districts. <br /> DEFINITIONS <br /> 3. Bill 144 seeks to amend HCC Chapter 4 (Animals) and Chapter 25 (Zoning) to <br /> include a definition for `Apiary'. Additionally, Bill 144 seeks to amend HCC <br /> Chapter 4 (Animals) to include a definition for `Bee or Honeybee', `Beekeeper', <br /> `Colony', `Disease', `Flyover barrier' and `Hive'. <br /> 4. Additionally, Bill 144 proposes to amend HCC Chapter 25 (Zoning) by amending <br /> the definition of`Livestock' and adding a definition for `Apiary'. <br /> -1- <br />