The City of Decorah is moving closer to allowing bee hives within city limits

The city's ordinance about "bothersome animals" states "It is a misdemeanor to keep within the city such bothersome animals as bees."  But the Decorah City Council has passed the first reading of new language about "bothersome animals."  The revised ordinance removes bees from the list of bothersome animals and creates a separate section regulating in-town honey making.

The ordinance—if it is approved twice more by the Decorah City council—would put a limit on the number of bee hives per property parcel and would create a set-back requirement.

Decorah resident Kirk Larsen—who spoke to city officials about the ordinance earlier this year--says wasps and hornets are much more likely than bees to sting people, so it's safe to have bee hives in Decorah--if properly regulated.