Urban beekeeping is a rewarding hobby that produces great honey at home.
But it does come with some responsibilities — particularly around keeping your neighbours happy and staying on the right side of the law.
Talk to your neighbours first.
Bees can cause concern even if they’re not actually dangerous, so have a conversation before you set anything up.
Registration is compulsory.
Under Tasmania’s Biosecurity Act 2019 and Biosecurity Regulations 2022 (in effect since November 2022), all beekeepers — commercial and recreational — must be registered. No exceptions.
How to register.
Tasmania uses an online system called BeeTAS, available at nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration. Through BeeTAS you can register or renew, update your apiary site details, log hive inspections, purchases, disposals and movements, and upload training certificates and lab results.
Follow the Code of Practice.
The Tasmanian Beekeepers Association has an Urban Beekeeping Code of Practice designed to make sure your bees don’t negatively affect people, animals, or local flora and fauna. You can find it at tasmanianbeekeepers.org.au.
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