Santa Barbara County Begins Easing Regulations on Backyard Beekeeping

Amateur beekeepers in Santa Barbara County are celebrating as the Board of Supervisors has initiated a move to permit "appropriately scaled" beekeeping in unincorporated regions. Residents in areas like Summerland, Isla Vista, and the Santa Ynez Valley have expressed frustration over restrictive regulations that hinder hive maintenance on their properties. Supervisor Joan Hartmann, who proposed the measure, acknowledged the stringent setbacks in these areas.