Bees are an important insect for our community and economy, they are responsible for the majority of the pollination of flowering plants, both in urban and rural areas. Beekeeping can also be a rewarding and interesting hobby.

Keeping Domestic Bees

Keeping hives of bees as a hobby can be an interesting experience but there can be complaints about bees in swimming pools, neighbors being stung or the disease risk of neglected hives. All beehives must be identified by branding all brood boxes with their registration number. Beekeepers are encouraged to increase and update their knowledge by attending training and/or belonging to a beekeeping association. In order to keep more than two hives, development consent is required.

Canterbury-Bankstown has some regulations to ensure your bees are not a nuisance or health risk to other residents, these include: 

• In urban areas, where residential blocks are small, no more than two hives is permitted
• Hives should not be located within the vicinity of schools, child care centres, hospitals or other public facilities;
• Beehives should not be positioned in the front yard of houses
• Swarming must be controlled
• The hive is not within nine metres of any neighbouring swimming pool
• The keeping of bees in unit and townhouse developments is not permitted
• All beekeepers must be registered with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and must comply with the Apiaries Act 1985

For a full list of all the regulations see our Local Orders Policy on keeping  domestic honey bees. 

For more information, or to ask a specific question, contact our Customer Service Centre on 9707 9000.