The bees are all the buzz in Littleton.

Residents are being asked to weigh in on a proposed beekeeping ordinance May 19, so city council members can properly draft the code to allow and regulate more beekeeping activity within city limits.

Already, Littleton has taken some direction from the City of Aurora.

In fact, the proposed ordinance is basically verbatim of Aurora’s only with minor changes.

Littleton is getting slightly more specific as to which zones will allow beekeeping, according to City Attorney Suzanne Staiert. It will be prohibited in multi-family residential areas, if passed.

While local beekeeping gurus are, for the most part, in agreement with the proposed regulations they don’t want the city limiting the number of hives a person can have in their backyard to only two.

Limiting the number of hives doesn’t necessarily correlate to the number of bees inside, according to Jo Haugland, President of The High Land Beekeeping Club.

“Specifying the number of hives is sort of arbitrary,” she said, suggesting that the city allow at least four hives to accommodate unexpected circumstances.

If a swarm of bees was to get in the way of a bike path, beekeepers would have hives on reserve to rescue and nurture the bees, Haugland said.

Other specifics that Littleton planning commissioners recommended to council included defining the term “bee.” The current definition encompasses every stage of bee growth.

“No one has ever been stung by an egg or a larva,” Haugland said.

City councilmember Peggy Cole attempted to incorporate some of the planning commission’s recommendations into the proposed draft, but remaining councilmembers, including the mayor, opted against the motions until the public can offer insight, May 19.

Mayor Doug Clark will be absent from the meeting.

Specific’s from Aurora’s policy:

1. Hives. All bee colonies shall be kept in inspectable type hives with removable combs, which shall be kept in sound and usable condition.

2. Setback. All hives shall be located at least five (5) feet from any adjoining property with the back of the hive facing the nearest adjoining property

3. Water. Each beekeeper shall ensure that a convenient source of water is available at all times to the bees so that the bees will not congregate at swimming pools, bibcocks, pet water bowls, birdbaths or other water sources where they may cause human, bird or domestic pet contact.