STUNG BY CITY HALL: 9-YEAR-OLD’S HIVES UNDER FIRE

A 9-year-old Santa Rosa boy’s backyard beekeeping hobby sparked outrage after a complaint framed it as an illegal “business.” Social media claimed the city had “banned” beekeeping, but that wasn’t true—local zoning only prohibits beekeeping as a home occupation, not as a hobby. The case highlights vague rules, misplaced priorities, and how bureaucracy can stifle youth learning. A code amendment is underway, but the damage is done: a child made to feel his passion is against the law.