"Los Angeles Buzzing Over Backyard Beehives"

"The Los Angeles City Council approved on Wednesday a draft proposal to allow hobbyist beekeepers to maintain hives in their backyards. Cities across the country have legalized beekeeping to help rebuild honeybee colonies."

"Los Angeles moved closer this week to allowing residents to keep beehives, making the city the latest front in an urban effort to reinforce bee populations that are vital to agricultural production across the United States.

The Los Angeles City Council approved on Wednesday a draft proposal to allow hobbyist beekeepers to maintain hives in their backyards. The practice hasn’t been allowed in residential zones in Los Angeles, but an increasing number of residents have been doing it anyway, driven by concern about recently dwindling honeybee populations.

L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar says he and his staff have been working on the ordinance with bee experts for a year, in part to ensure that the practice is regulated properly."

Henry Gass reports for the Christian Science Monitor September 3, 2015.