The Olympia Planning Commission approved changes to urban agriculture regulations, providing expanded opportunities for residents to farm and keep bees within city limits.
Casey Schaufler, an Associate Planner with Community Planning and Economic Development, presented a revised draft of the ordinance to the commission on Monday, May 5. The draft focuses on removing city code barriers to urban agriculture.
While agriculture is already allowed in some parts of the city, Schaufler said it will now be permitted in most commercial and downtown districts. The auto service areas are excluded.
The changes allow residents, nonprofits and businesses to establish urban farms in more locations without needing approval.
The proposed changes streamlined building conversions for agricultural purposes. In the past, converting a structure, such as a garage or shed, into a greenhouse or crop storage space might have triggered a land use review.
Schaufler said such conversions will be permitted outright provided they directly support agricultural activities.
"The land use waiver could be granted for any site plan changes, so long as it is in support of urban agriculture," Schaufler said.
In revising urban agriculture regulations, Schaufler said Olympia's approach to beekeeping is to adopt more structured guidelines, specifically from Thurston County.
"We originally were proposing that hives would be allowed outright, with no registration or limit on the number of hives," Schaufler explained.
Under the revised proposal, the city will verify that hives are registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, as already required by state law.
Schaufler said the city will not implement an additional registration process. He added that lots under 10,000 square feet will be limited to four hives, and all bee enclosures must be positioned at least 10 feet from property lines and outside setback areas.
Commissioner Zainab Nejati admitted she was uncomfortable with the city's initial proposal to allow unlimited beehives without a way to sufficiently regulate them.
"It makes me uncomfortable … we're going to allow something that is potentially a hazard to other people, but we don't have the ability to sufficiently regulate it," she said.
She also questioned the proposed 10-foot setback, noting that many Washington jurisdictions require 20- to 25-foot setbacks, and that Olympia's proposal seems dangerously inadequate.
"Would you want to be sitting that close to a hive of bees?" Nejati asked.
Schaufler acknowledged the challenges of urban agricultural oversight.
"Ten feet is somewhat arbitrary," he admitted, explaining the proposed setback was designed as a "good neighbor practice" rather than a science-based standard.
He said the city intentionally kept beekeeping requirements minimal due to limited staff expertise in animal husbandry and agricultural compliance.
While Thurston County allows flexible 10-foot setbacks based on site-specific conditions like elevation changes, Olympia opted for a flat 10-foot minimum.
"We lack the capacity to evaluate complex site conditions like flight barriers or hive orientation," said Schaufler, underscoring the approach to urban agriculture regulation.
After deliberation, the Planning Commission approved the urban agriculture ordinance with revisions, such as adopting Thurston County's language, beehive setbacks — 25 feet from property lines — reducible to 10 feet with specific mitigation strategies.
The commission also asked staff to clarify that only honeybees (Apis mellifera) are subject to state registration, removing references to other bee species.
The commission also requested that staff develop additional language to address potential nuisance issues related to urban farming.
The recommendation will be forwarded to the Land Use and Environment Committee for review.
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FrostedFlake
A Rooster can be a pain for over a mile. The quieter the night, the further you can hear it. We are talking about two hours before Dawn, every, single, day. There is no 'OFF' switch. The owner never hears the barking dog. Same story with Roosters. For you it's free food. For everyone else it's, "COME ON OUT AND FIGHT !!!" at 3 am, daily.
Can we just outlaw Roosters? Right now... ? I hear they taste a lot like chicken.
Wednesday, May 7 Report this
Boatyarddog
This is VERY benefical and much needed to offset the horriable prices of food.
100% nessessary!
To FrostedFlake
Wear Ear plugs.
Roosters are Not Nessessary for Egg production but for Meat, yes!
Its okay, Send Trump a letter! Its HIS responsiabily someone has to raise their own food..... he broke MANY Promises!
Thursday, May 8 Report this
Southsoundguy
Boatyard you are unhinged.
Thursday, May 8 Report this
Boatyarddog
Mr Potatohead You sound like you've been Spanked by The Olympia Community... And you have. :)
Thursday, May 8 Report this