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Washington

Are bees allowed? Yes, for agricultural districts.

No, for residential and business districts

Bee keeping is not legal within city limits for residential and business lots. Excerpt from city code <download code via city website here>:

55.06 LIVESTOCK. It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the City except by written consent of the Council or except in compliance with the City’s zoning regulations.

If a nuisance was called: The city would work to negotiate peace, despite the illegal status. It could be removing a queen, destroying a queen, etc. if the bees prove to be hazardous to people. Theoretically, fines and suits are courses of action.

Additional notes: Honey bees do not appear to be livestock:

55.05 LIVESTOCK NEGLECT. It is unlawful for a person who impounds or confines livestock in any place to fail to provide the livestock with care consistent with customary animal husbandry practices or to deprive the livestock of necessary sustenance or to injure or destroy livestock by any means which causes pain or suffering in a manner inconsistent with customary animal husbandry practices. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 717.2)

Ch 165 14. “Livestock” means an animal belonging to the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine or porcine species, ostriches, rheas, emus; farm deer as defined in §170.1 of the Code of Iowa; or poultry.

Contact: Steve Donnolly

Department: Building and Zoning

Title: Administrator

Email: sdonnolly@washingtoniowa.net

Phone: 319- 653-6584  Ext. 124

County: Washington