1. Beekeeping and the Law

2. Register Every person keeping one or more colonies of bees shall register with the Department annually.

3. Consequences $50 for failure to register annually with the Department. Save yourself $50… Register!

4. Identify Every person keeping one or more colonies of bees may be required to post his or her registration number in a prominent place within each apiary under his or her control.

5. Consequences $50 for failure to post registration number in the apiary. Its easy to save another $50… Post your number!

6. Right of Entry The Department shall have the power to inspect or cause to be inspected from time to time any bees, colonies, items of bee equipment or apiary. For the purpose of inspection, the Director is authorized during reasonable business hours to enter into or upon any property used for the purpose of beekeeping.

7. Consequences $100 for maintaining hives that cannot be readily inspected. Its easy to save $100… Let the inspector in. Hes a nice guy!

9. Local Inspector Jim Wellwood 12410 North 500 East Road Gridley, IL 61744 309/310-4843 jpwell@gridcom.net

10. Inspections Even though your apiary will be inspected from time to time, you should constantly keep an eye open for diseases and pests yourself. If and when serious diseases are found -- especially American foulbrood and European foulbrood -- you should respond quickly and appropriately. Remember, by protecting your own colonies, you also protect those of your fellow beekeepers.

11. Registration Requirements In compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the State of Illinois, all apiaries in the state must be registered during November each year or within ten (10) days after acquiring ownership or possession of bees. Complete an Application for Apiary Registration form obtained from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industries, Apiary Inspection Section, P. O. Box 19281 - Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL 62794-9281. Registration is free of charge.

13. Thank you and happy beekeeping!