Bee City USA

Bee (illustration of a bee) City USA, Charlotte, NC

On March 13, 2023, Charlotte City Council passed a resolution designating Charlotte as a Bee City USA affiliate, joining 23 other North Carolina towns and cities in the program committed to supporting pollinators. Charlotte will partner with local beekeepers to educate the community on bees, enhance habitats and reduce the use of pesticides.

Why is Pollination Important?

Pollination plays a vital role for trees and plants, enhancing quality of life and creating recreational and economic development opportunities. Pollinators like bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, honeybees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds and many others are responsible for the production of almost 90% of the world's flowering plant species. and one in every three bites of food we consume.

What Do Bee Cities Do to Help Pollinators?

Hosted through the city's Keep Charlotte Beautiful program, city staff and community partners will work together to advance the Bee City USA commitments, including the following activities:

  • Publicizing the Bee City USA Program
  • Hosting education events and/or pollinator habitat plantings/restoration
  • Developing a list of recommended native plants
  • Creating or expanding pollinator-friendly habitats, and
  • Working with the city's Landscape Management Division to identify improvements to pest management policies and practices as they relate to pollinator conservation
  • Read the full resolution(PDF, 832KB)

Want tips to start your own pollinator habitat and other resources? 

Visit our Pollinator Gardening page.

Charlotte Bee City USA Committee Liaison

Jonathan Hill
Executive Director
Keep Charlotte Beautiful
704.432.4802
jonathan.hill@charlottenc.gov

Charlotte Bee City USA is a subcommittee of Keep Charlotte Beautiful. 

Pollinator Activities

Tow women holding craft supplies in front of homemade bee houses

The city partnered with local, regional and national organizations to host a series of pollinator-friendly activities during National Pollinator Week June 19-25, 2023. Events included garden and pollinator monitoring, a pocket prairie/meadow workshop, a pollinator walking tour, a workshop on reducing grass and turf on landscape and a bee/birdhouse workshop (pictured above). The city also tested residents' knowledge of pollinators with a series of fun and educational quizzes throughout the week. 

night time image of the city of charlotte with towers lights on

On June 21, 2023, the Wells Fargo Tower in Uptown Charlotte was lit with yellow and orange to celebrate National Pollinator Week.

Image of the top of a City of Charlotte proclamation

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles proclaimed June 19-25 as Pollinator Week to urge all residents to recognize this observance and to participate in community activities that support and celebrate pollinator conservation.

Back to top