Beekeeping

Community Bee Garden

Where is Schaumburg’s Bee Garden?

The bee garden is located in a fenced area on the vacant parcel at 200 S. Plum Grove Rd, just south of the intersection of Schaumburg and Plum Grove roads on the west side of the street.

How do I apply to participate in Schaumburg’s Bee Garden?

Participants must be residents of Schaumburg to be eligible to keep and maintain bee hives in the bee yard. Participants must complete and submit an application and hold harmless agreement, as well as insurance documentation for space in the bee yard. A maximum of 3 hives will be allowed per family. Before filling out an application, please read the Rules and Regulations to be familiar with village requirements to participate. Applications can be submitted to the Monica Richart, via email, or by mail to 101 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg, IL 60193.

Participants must also register their hives with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and must be in compliance with the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act. Review this sample registration form containing the address and legal description for Schaumburg’s bee garden.

When a participant is approved, he/she will be assigned a key to access the bee garden. There is no charge to keep and maintain a bee hive in the bee garden.

What are the insurance requirements?

All applicants must provide certificates of insurance for the following types and limits of insurance by an insurance company acceptable to the Village. All insurance shall not be cancelled, reduced, or materially changed without providing the Village thirty (30) days advance notice.

Comprehensive General Liability naming the Village of Schaumburg, IL as an additional insured for the Village of Schaumburg Community Bee Yard at 200 S. Plum Grove Rd. Proof of written endorsement must be submitted with the certificate. The contract holder is responsible for providing the village with an updated certificate prior to expiration date. It must have a minimum coverage of $1 million per occurrence and aggregate, and include:

• Broad Form Coverage
• Products/Completed Operations
• Personal Injury

Automobile Liability in an amount not less than $250,000 combined single limit. Said insurance is to be extended to cover hired and non-owned vehicles.

Where do I park my car?

Parking is available in the parking lot of Our Saviour’s United Methodist Church located at 701 E. Schaumburg Rd. on Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is not allowed on Sundays before 1 p.m. Beekeepers must park their cars in a designated parking stall and not in the drive aisles.

Beekeeping at Home

If you would like to keep a bee hive at your home, there is a village review and approval process required. Apiaries are permitted as a “Special Use” in all residential districts provided approval for a Special Use for the apiary is granted. The Special Use Approval process ensures that neighbors are informed of the proposed apiary so anyone with objections can voice their concerns. The special use approval requires review by the Plan Commission and approval by the Village Board. The fee for the special use review is $200.

What is the review process?

Interested residents should complete and submit an application via email to Ryan Franklin or by mail to 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, IL 60193. Review a sample application to see what type of information is needed. The application will be reviewed by staff and scheduled for a public hearing before the Plan Commission.

At the scheduled public hearing, the Plan Commission will conduct a public review of the petition, and all persons desiring to express an opinion regarding the petition will be given an opportunity to be heard. Upon the conclusion of its review, the Plan Commission will submit a recommendation to the Village Board to grant, deny, or modify the petition.

The Village of Schaumburg Zoning Ordinance specifies certain notification procedures for petitions when a Special Use Approval is requested. Specifically, such procedures include:

1. Publication of a legal notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village; and
2. Notification of all property owners within 150 feet of the perimeter boundaries of the subject property.

1. Newspaper Legal Notice

The Schaumburg Community Development Department will publish a legal notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days prior to the scheduled Plan Commission public hearing.

2. Written notification to surrounding property owners

A petitioner requesting approval of a Special Use must provide written notification by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all property owners located within 150 feet of the subject property, as measured from the exterior edges of the property. Only property owners of record must be notified, including homeowner’s associations when common property falls within the required 150 foot limit.

The Community Development Department will provide the petitioner with a completed written notification letter which must be signed and mailed as described below.

Written notification of the scheduled public hearing must be sent not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days prior to the Plan Commission public hearing. One copy of the notice must be filed with the Community Development Department. All return receipts (either green cards or copies of electronic receipts) as well as a list of the property owners receiving notification must be submitted to the Community Development Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the scheduled public hearing. Failure to notify surrounding property owners will necessitate rescheduling of the public hearing.

A visit to the township office is the most effective method of obtaining “owners of record.” In most cases, the townships will not provide this information over the telephone.

Schaumburg Township Assessor’s Office
One Illinois Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60194
(847) 884-0030

Palatine Township Assessor’s Office
721 S. Quentin Road
Palatine, Illinois 60067
(847) 358-6700

Final Approval

After the Plan Commission hearing, the petition must be reviewed by the Village Board. Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Plan Commission, the Village Board will then grant, deny, or modify the petition as it determines appropriate.

Resources

Local beekeeping associations are great sources for information. Consider contacting and joining one of the associations listed below:

• Illinois State Beekeepers Association
• Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association
• Northern Illinois Beekeepers Association
• Lake County Beekeepers Association

Local community colleges offer beekeeping classes that provide useful background information on beekeeping.

• College of Lake County: Beekeeping Class
• McHenry County College: Beekeeping Classes