At the 2026 COGS AGM, held in March 2026, a proposal to update the COGS policy on the Housing of Bees was passed. The wording of the policy is set out below:
Housing of beehives in COGS Gardens
COGS gardens may house beehives, subject to the following conditions:
- All gardens that have beehives must enter into an agreement with the beekeeper(s) using the attached template agreement. Convenors must agree any variations to the template agreement with the COGS President.
- Convenors should seek independent advice from the ACT Beekeepers Association or similar organisation regarding the location of beehives bearing in mind public safety.
- Convenors should ensure signs are in place advising garden members and the public about the presence of beehives in a garden.
- The presence of beehives in a COGS garden is up to individual gardens and their members to decide, ideally on a consensus basis.
- Convenors must advise the COGS Community Gardens Coordinator of the current registration number of all hives kept in their respective community garden.
Template Agreement for the Placement and Management of Beehives
The Template Agreement for the Placement and Management of Beehives can be downloaded from here.
