Portugal Cove–St. Philip's, Newfoundland and Labrador
· adopted 2025-02-11
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Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's
Beehive By-Law
Pursuant to the authority conferred in sections 8 of the Towns and Local Service
Districts Act, 2025, the Town Council of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's has adopted the
following By-Law on February 11, 2025.
1. TITLE
1.1. This document will be known and cited as the Beehive By-Law.
2. PURPOSE
2.1. The purpose of this by-law is to provide conditions with respect to the installation
of a beehive(s) on a residential lot within the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.
3. INTERPRETATION/DEFINITION
3.1. "Act" shall mean the Town's and Local Service Districts Act.
3.2. "Apiary" shall mean a place where honey bees, live or beehive equipment are
regularly kept.
3.3. "Bee" shall mean the honey bee or the insect Apis mellifera.
3.4. "Beehive" or "Colony" shall mean an enclosed structure in which honeybees
live and raise their young.
3.5. "Beekeeper" shall mean a person who is registered to engage in beekeeping
with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and who keeps, ones,
controls or maintains an Apiary in accordance with this by-law.
3.6. "Council" shall mean the Town Council of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.
3.7. "Nucleus Colony" shall mean a small colony of honey bees, with a mated
queen, usually created in Spring or early summer from a full sized colony.
3.8. "Permit" shall mean a permit issued by the Council that is valid only for the
length of time and location stated on the permit.
3.9. "Split" shall mean a number of frames from a honey bee hive with the ability to
create a new queen and grow into a new colony or hive.
3.10. "Town" shall mean the Town of Portugal Cove - St. Philip's.
4. APPLICATION
4.1. This by-law shall be binding on all persons, including Council and the general
public.
5. PROCEDURE
5.1. Prior to installing a beehive within the Town, a permit must first be obtained in
accordance with the Town's Municipal Plan and Development Regulations.
6. PERMIT
6.1. No Beehive or Colony shall be placed on a residential property without first
obtaining a permit from the Town.
6.2. Council will give written notice to all persons whose land is in the immediate
vicinity of the proposed apiary, and allow a minimum period of seven (7) days for
response.
6.3. Beehives shall only be permitted in such land use zones where Agriculture is
listed as a Permitted or Discretionary Use within Schedule C of the Town's
Development Regulations.
6.4. The applicant must register their Apiary with the Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Fisheries and Land Resources (Provincial Apiarist).
6.5. Keeping of bees shall be subject to the Animal Health and Protection Act.
6.6. If a person stops keeping bees for any reason they will inform the Town that
they have done so.
6.7. The owner shall keep the honey and/or beeswax produced for personal use.
6.8. Apiaries on a residential lot shall be subject to the following conditions:
6.8.1. The maximum number of beehives within an apiary is:
6.8.1.1. Two (2) beehives or colonies and two (2) nucleus colonies or splits
on any parcel of land equal or greater than 1860 m2 and less than
4000 m2.
6.8.1.2. Three (3) beehives or colonies and three (3) nucleus colonies or
splits on any parcel of land equal or greater than 4000 m2 and less
than 8,000 m2; or
6.8.1.3. Four (4) beehives or colonies and four (4) nucleus colonies or splits
on any parcel of land equal or greater than 8000 m2 and less than
16,000 m2, or;
6.8.1.4. Five (5) beehives or colonies and five (5) nucleus colonies or greater
on any parcel of land equal or greater than 16,000 m2.
6.8.2. The beehive is kept in the rear yard of the subject property, unless
otherwise approved by Council;
6.8.3. The Apiary must be a minimum of 13 m from any property boundary;
6.8.4. An on-site water source shall be provided within 3 m of the Apiary;
6.8.5. A sign shall be placed on or beside the Apiary listing the name and
contact information as well as the provincial identification number.
6.8.6. The entrance of the beehive shall be aimed away from neighbouring
buildings;
6.8.7. Fencing, hedging, or other suitable barrier must be established to direct
bees from neighbouring dwellings; and
6.8.8. The individual proposing to install and maintain the Beehive shall submit
written confirmation that the individual is trained in the keeping of bees or
will be mentored by an existing beekeeper who has more than two (2)
years' experience caring for bees in Newfoundland and Labrador.
6.9. Nothing in this by-law serves to exempt any person from obtaining any license,
permission, permit, authority or approval required by any other Regulation of the
Town or any statute or regulation of the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador. Where there is a conflict between a provision of this by-law and a
provision of another Regulation of the Town, the more restrictive provision shall
prevail. Where there is a conflict between these Regulations and a provincial
statute or regulation, the provincial law shall prevail.
6.10. The Town shall, every 2 years, conduct a review of this By-law and consider
the areas which may be improved.
7. PENALTIES
7.1. Penalties may be applied in accordance with Division 6 of the Towns and Local
Service Districts Act.
7.2. This by-law shall not exclude the application of other penalties not expressly
listed.
8. REPEAL OF PREVIOUS REGULATIONS AND AMENDMENTS
8.1. This by-law shall repeal the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Beehive
Regulations, 2019, enacted on October 29, 2019.
9. CAME INTO EFFECT
9.1. These Regulations first came into effect on the February 11, 2025, through a
resolution of Council, #2025-045.
_____________________________________
Carol McDonald, Mayor
_____________________________________
Claudine Murray, Town Clerk