A Kanawha County circuit judge ruled in favor of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, affirming that regulatory authority over beekeeping resides solely with the department.
A Kanawha County circuit judge ruled in favor of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, affirming that regulatory authority over beekeeping resides solely with the department.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WV News) — The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) says it has secured a legal victory that affirms the rights of farmers and beekeepers to continue agricultural practices across the state.
The department intervened in the Kanawha County Circuit Court case Alex Urban v. City of South Charleston to defend state authority over beekeeping regulations.
Alex Urban petitioned the City of South Charleston for a permit to keep honeybees on his property, but his request was denied. The city subsequently enacted an ordinance prohibiting residents from keeping domesticated animals, including bees. Urban then filed suit against the city, prompting the WVDA to intervene to uphold its regulatory oversight of honeybees under the West Virginia Apiary Act.
The WVDA argued that the city exceeded its authority by attempting to regulate honeybees, a responsibility designated exclusively to the state under the West Virginia Apiary Act (§19-13-1 et seq.). The department also cited the West Virginia Right to Farm Law (§19-19-1 et seq.), which protects the rights of farmers and beekeepers.
The court ruled in favor of the WVDA, affirming that regulatory authority over beekeeping resides solely with the department.
“This decision reaffirms the WVDA’s role in regulating honeybees and ensures that West Virginians retain their right to farm,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.
“Beekeeping is a crucial component of agriculture and environmental sustainability, and we are committed to protecting those who contribute to our state’s food systems.”
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