Subchapter II-A. Sustainable Urban Agriculture Apiculture.
§ 8–1825.01. Short title.
This subchapter may be cited as the “Sustainable Urban Agriculture Apiculture Act of 2012”.
§ 8–1825.02. Definitions.
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) “Africanized bee” means a hybrid variety of Apis mellifera produced by the cross-breeding of the aggressive African honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata with a European honey bee subspecies.
(2) “Apiary” means a place where a colony is kept.
(3) “Bee disease” means an abnormal condition resulting from action by a parasite, predator, or infectious agent.
(4) “Brood” means the embryo and egg, larva, and pupa stages of a bee.
(5) “Colony” means a hive and its equipment and appurtenances, including bees, brood, comb, pollen, and honey.
(6) “Comb” means the assemblage of cells containing a living stage of a bee at a time prior to emergence as an adult.
(7) “Department” means the District Department of the Environment.
(7A) “Director” means the Director of the District Department of the Environment.
(8) “Hive” means a container used for the housing of a colony.
(9) “Honey bee” means Apis mellifera or another species designated as suitable for an urban environment by the Director.
Apis mellifera
(10) “Multi-unit building” means a building with at least 4 separate housing units.
(11) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, association, firm, joint stock company, organization, commission, or any other legal entity.
(12) Repealed.
§ 8–1825.03. General authorization and restrictions.
A colony may be kept in the District only if it is established and maintained in a manner consistent with this subchapter and any regulations promulgated pursuant to this subchapter.
§ 8–1825.04. Responsibilities of beekeepers.
(a) A colony kept in the District shall be registered annually with the Department.
(b) No person shall bring into the District a colony or portion of a colony, bees on combs, empty used combs, used hives, or other used apiary appliances without complying with the procedures established by the Department in accordance with this subchapter.
(c) A colony may not be established in a multi-unit building without written permission from the property manager or owner.
(d) A hive must be kept and maintained to prevent overcrowding and deter swarming according to procedures established by the Department through rulemaking.
(e) A beekeeper shall be responsible for the remediation of bee swarms and nuisance conditions. If a beekeeper fails to fulfill this obligation, the owner of the property on which a hive is located shall be responsible for remediating these conditions, and the beekeeper shall reimburse the property owner for the costs incurred by the remediation.
§ 8–1825.05. Colony density and distance from property line. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 8–1825.06. Colony disposition. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 8–1825.07. Diseased colonies or equipment.
(a) The Department shall establish procedures and may take measures to control the spread of bee diseases and may order a beekeeper to take measures to control the spread of bee diseases.
(b) The Mayor shall treat or destroy the bees, hives, and honey of a beekeeper who fails to take measures ordered by the Mayor to eradicate or control bee disease.
§ 8–1825.08. Fees. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 8–1825.09. Rules; enforcement.
(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter. The rules may establish fees necessary to implement the provisions of this subchapter.
(b) The Mayor may enforce this subchapter by use of any injunctive relief, measure, or combination of measures, authorized by this subchapter or otherwise by law.
(c) Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as sanctions for a violation of this subchapter or rules or regulations issued under the authority of this subchapter, pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2 [§ 2-1801.01 et seq.] (“Civil Infractions Act”).
(d) Repealed.
(e) The Mayor may require reimbursement for the District’s costs resulting from services, including inspections, testing, storage, and transportation of hives or bees, or other reasonable costs or fees incurred in implementation of this subchapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this subchapter.
