The City Council voted Monday to approve changes in city ordinances to allow urban beekeeping. The council approved one bill that allows two hives on city lots of at least 5,000 square feet, and one more hive for every additional 5,000 square feet.

The Springfield News-Leader reports (http://sgfnow.co/WAFEAu) anyone wanting to keep a hive in the city previously had to have a minimum of 20 acres.

A second bill includes several restrictions and would allow the bee hives to be declared nuisances under certain circumstances.

Among other things, the new ordinance requires hives only in rear yards, at least 5 feet from all property lines, and within a fenced enclosure.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com