Status Update: The village of Oak Park is be friendly effective December 5. The Village Board has passed a beekeeping ordinance and regulations for keeping bees within the Village limits. The Ordinance reverses a ban of more than 80 years.
On June 21st, The Village Board of Oak Park voted to tentatively move forward in reversing the 80+ year ban on beekeeping. Authorizing the Health Department to draft an ordinance that would allow and regulate beekeeping in the village.
The board voted 6 – 1 in favor of drafting the ordinance after a lengthy discussion on the subject. Cook DuPage Beekeepers Association played an important role in the process, with Gary Gates, President of CDBA addressing the board on the various concerns, processes and issues related to bees and beekeeping in an urban environment and other members of CDBA in attendance to provide support and additional commentary.
“The Health department did an excellent job in researching the various ordinances in the US related to keeping bees in an urban environment, and provided this information to the board. We are very pleased to work with the village in drafting the ordinance to assure the safety of the bees and their well being is taken into consideration.” said Mr. Gates. “The Cook DuPage Beekeepers Association has a long history in the Chicagoland area in promoting honey bees and beekeeping and look forward to helping the village and increasing the residents understanding of honey bees with classes and seminars on the subject.”
Most of the discussion centered on the concern for citizens who may have a strong allergic reation to bee stings. Dr. Paul Luning had researched this information and identified that the US sees 40 – 100 deaths related to “stinging insects” a year, which includes stings from wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants. One Health Board committee person indicated more deaths are related to peanut alergies than bee stings.
This is the first step in the process, with the presentation of the ordinance, several readings and final approval coming later this summer.
This is especially exciting to CDBA member Deborah Becker who began the process in 2009 when she requested the village board review the ban on beekeeping and reverse it.
Special thanks to Tony Gedritis, Jim & Karen Belli and Debbie Becker who participated in the meeting and voiced their support.
Further information on the news can be found here.