True bee-liever! Military vet goes to war with neighbors and authorities over his backyard bee hive which left his home 'unfit for human occupancy'

A beekeeping Florida resident is buzzing mad and is at war with neighbors and authorities over his backyard hive which left his home 'unfit for human occupancy.'

Mike Powers was shocked when he was told by code enforcement that his home on Lake Anderson Avenue in Orlando was 'unsafe and unlawful to occupy.'

The apiarist, who has been caring for honeybees at his home for more than 20 years, was perplexed as he had been approved to keep honeybees on his property. 

Distressed by the ordeal, he stayed with friends and tried to reach out for legal counsel, until he learned that Florida residents are allowed to keep bees on their property, as per a state law.

The military veteran, who also grows bananas, coffee beans, papaya, peaches, pineapple and sweet potatoes, said there was 'no warning, no due process, nothing, just get out,' the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Mike Powers, a military veteran, and avid beekeeper, was shocked when he was told by code enforcement that his home on Lake Anderson Avenue in Orlando was 'unsafe and unlawful to occupy'

Last month, a code compliance officer reportedly stopped by Powers home after a complaint came in from a neighbor on February 28, alleging that the bees 'stung her all the time.' 

The officer placed a notice on his door informing him that his home was unsafe, and it was unlawful to live in, according to the news outlet. 

The officer also left their business card and a written message to 'remove stinging insects.'

Beekeeping activities are handled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as per state laws.

Scott Glass, an attorney in Orlando, who specializes in land-use, was familiar with the county directive that Powers was slapped with. 

Though, he told the news outlet that he never met Powers, he shared that he was  'irked' by the incident.

'I'm not a tree-hugger,' Glass said.  'But, seriously! They kicked a man out of his house because of a beehive in the backyard.'

Glass, who revealed that he has friends who share the same hobby, said he sent a copy of Florida's beekeeping statute to the code-compliance officer, and to Orange County Attorney Jeff Newton.

In the note, he urged county officials to 'rein these people in' before their actions open the the county to a lawsuit, as per the news outlet.

The state apiary beekeeper inspector had called the code-compliance officer to inform her that Powers had permission to house honeybees on his property. 

A stock image that shows a close-up of honeybees on a beehive 

Glass also wrote an email to the code enforcement officer telling her that he hoped the incident that took place was a 'one-off,' and advised other backyard beekeepers, like Powers, to contact him if they see themselves in a similar situation. 

'Any future questions or complaints about Backyard Beekeepers in Orange County will be directed to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the appropriate enforcement authority,' he wrote.

John Coldwell, president of the Florida State Beekeepers Association, said in part that 'one phone call from a state apiary inspector can usually avoid what happened in Orange County.'

Florida has more than 5,000 registered beekeepers, including commercial apiaries and hobbyists.

Powers told the news outlet that he keeps bees strictly for enjoyment not to make money from honey.