Des Plaines likely to allow beekeeping for educational purposes

Thousands more honeybees likely will be buzzing in Des Plaines by next year.

A majority of aldermen agreed Monday the city should allow beekeeping for educational purposes at park districts, schools and other institutions. They'll likely vote on formal rules at a later city council meeting.

"Unfortunately, there are a lot of inaccurate assumptions made about honeybees," 5th Ward Alderman Carla Brookman said. "Honeybees are generally very passive, and they're very peaceful while they're out forging to pollinate crops."

Des Plaines' previous rules for beekeeping effectively served as a total ban by restricting it to spaces at least a quarter-mile from homes, schools, churches and other public gathering places.

The Mount Prospect Park District prompted city officials to reconsider those restrictions when it sought permission to build an apiary - the habitat where beehives are kept - at the Friendship Park Conservatory, located within the city limits of Des Plaines. The park district wants to provide educational opportunities for residents to learn about bees' role in the food supply.

Under preliminary rules proposed by the city, beekeeping would be allowed only for educational purposes in locations at least 250 feet from residences. No more than four beehives would be permitted on approved properties.

Only educational organizations such as park districts or schools could maintain beehives, while homeowners could not.

However, allowing beehives for educational purposes may double as a pilot program to determine whether residents could maintain them on private property.

"We just thought this would be a good first step, getting them a little closer to residents," said Michael McMahon, the city's director of community and economic development.

Suburbs that allow beekeeping include Rolling Meadows, Evanston, Skokie, West Dundee and Elgin. The city of Chicago also allows it, and Lake County relaxed its rules a few years ago to allow more beehives.

"I can see this as being a gateway to allowing residents to have beehives as well," 3rd Ward Alderman Denise Rodd said.