In sports-crazed Pittsburgh, William Perry had the perfect argument in support of honey bees.

"I'd just like to say every honey bee is born wearing Steelers colors," he told city planning commission members Tuesday, sparking chuckles.

Mr. Perry was among dozens of people who packed a public hearing as tightly as bees in a hive to protest proposed changes in an ordinance dealing with the keeping of agricultural animals on city properties.

A proposal requiring a 15-foot property line setback and a minimum lot of 2,500 square feet for beekeeping has stung beekeepers and the organizations that represent them.

Meredith Grelli, founder and director of Burgh Bees, said the proposed rule "in effect bans beekeeping throughout the city of Pittsburgh."

While honey bees sometimes are viewed as hostile, she and Joseph Zgurzynski, a master beekeeper and co-director of education for Burgh Bees, said they are defensive insects, stinging only when provoked.

Mr. Zgurzynski said beekeeping has been done safely in huge urban centers like Manhattan and San Francisco. He said there are at least a dozen beekeepers in Pittsburgh.

The proposed ordinance also would require a lot of at least 3,000 square feet to keep up to three chickens and 4,000 square feet to raise four. That upset Alicia Schmitt of Friendship, who said the proposal assumes an attitude that "chickens will be a problem for neighbors." She said that's not the case with her three hens.

"Everybody loves the chickens," she said.

The city is seeking to make changes because its current ordinance offers few limitations on the keeping of bees, chickens or other animals nor any protections for those involved in such activities.

One who spoke in favor of tighter controls was Kathryn Romey of Point Breeze. She said that in the past bees that have strayed from nearby properties have ended up in her third-floor fireplace and a second-floor wall.

"I know they'll fly high. They'll go anywhere they can to create a hive," she said.

Supporters of beekeeping said there are effective barriers to prevent that.

The commission took no action on the proposed ordinance Tuesday. It directed the planning staff to work with Burgh Bees and other groups to address some of the concerns and produce more consensus.

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