Beekeeping
Animal Ordinances
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
How Beekeeping Rules Differ by Place
Anaheim, CA: Anaheim Beekeeping Ban and Exceptions
Heavy RestrictionsKeeping honey bee hives anywhere in Anaheim's corporate limits is unlawful under Municipal Code Chapter 6.28. The only path around the ban is a Conditional Use Permit on land zoned…
Bishop, CA: Beekeeping banned in Bishop, California
Heavy RestrictionsBishop prohibits beekeeping outright. Municipal Code 6.08.110 makes it unlawful to keep or harbor any bees in the city and declares any beehive used or occupied by bees a nuisance…
Clovis, CA: Clovis Beekeeping & Apiary Rules
Heavy RestrictionsClovis bars beekeeping on ordinary residential property: Municipal Code Section 9.40.040(B) allows a stand of bees only in conjunction with a permitted agricultural operation, limited…
Lee County, AL: Lee County Beekeeping and Apiary Zoning Rules
Few RestrictionsLee County's Zoning Regulations do not treat beekeeping as its own use category; apiaries fall under "Commercial farm," which Section 8.4(1) expressly lists as including "bees and…
Washington County, AR: Washington County Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping is allowed across Washington County. Under the Arkansas Apiary Act, Ark. Code 2-22-110, beekeepers must register their colonies with the State Plant Board; cities add hive…
San Rafael, CA: San Rafael Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsSan Rafael exempts backyard beekeeping from the administrative use permit the city otherwise requires for keeping mammals, birds, and reptiles on residential property.
Beekeeping Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alabama
Some RestrictionsAlabama Code Title 2, Chapter 14 requires all beekeepers to register colonies with the Department of Agriculture and Industries and complies with state apiary inspection and disease…
Alaska
Some RestrictionsAlaska imposes uniform statewide rules on bee importation, equipment, and disease control. Honey bees brought into Alaska require a health certificate, and used beekeeping equipment is…
Arizona
Some RestrictionsArizona requires every beekeeper to register apiaries with the State Department of Agriculture, regardless of city rules, and follows uniform statewide pest and disease management…
Arkansas
Some RestrictionsThe Arkansas Apiary Act gives the State Plant Board exclusive authority to regulate honeybee health, registration, and movement. Beekeepers must register colonies and submit to…
California
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia law requires every beekeeper, apiary owner, broker, or person possessing an apiary in the state to register each colony's number and location by January 1 each year with the…
Colorado
Few RestrictionsColorado's Bee and Bee Products Act (C.R.S. 35-25-101) authorizes state apiary inspection but imposes no mandatory statewide registration; the program has been unfunded since 1990…
Connecticut
Light RestrictionsConnecticut law requires anyone owning one or more bee hives to register with the State Entomologist upon acquiring bees and again every year by October 1. Registration is free…
Delaware
Some RestrictionsDelaware Code Title 3 Chapter 75 requires every beekeeper to annually register all colonies and apiary locations with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes the State Apiarist to…
District of Columbia
Significant RestrictionsEvery honey bee colony kept in the District of Columbia must be registered annually with the Department of Energy and Environment, and beekeepers are legally responsible for…
Florida
Some RestrictionsFlorida law requires every beekeeper to register their honeybee colonies with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, obtain inspection certificates, and renew annually…
Georgia
Few RestrictionsGeorgia law bars counties and cities from banning, impeding, or restricting honeybee hives, so keeping bees is protected statewide under O.C.G.A. § 2-14-41.1. Local governments keep…
Hawaii
Some RestrictionsHawaii regulates beekeeping statewide through the Department of Agriculture. Under HRS 142-100, beekeepers may register their apiaries, and the department runs an apiary program with…
Idaho
Some RestrictionsIdaho requires commercial beekeepers to register apiaries annually with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and uniform statewide inspection rules apply to disease control and…
Illinois
Some RestrictionsThe Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act requires registration of all colonies with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes inspections to control diseases statewide.
Indiana
Light RestrictionsIndiana does not require statewide apiary registration, but IC 14-24-8-4 bars bringing bees or beekeeping equipment in from another state or country without a permit from the Division…
Iowa
Significant RestrictionsAnyone moving honeybee colonies, packages, or used equipment with combs into Iowa must apply to the state apiarist for a written entry permit at least sixty days before entry, backed…
Kansas
Few RestrictionsKansas does not license or register beekeepers. The old apiary-inspection law is repealed; bees and beekeeping equipment now fall under the Plant Pest and Agriculture Commodity…
Kentucky
Some RestrictionsKentucky requires beekeepers to register colonies with the State Apiarist and comply with disease inspection requirements. The state regulates apiary health uniformly under KRS Chapter…
Louisiana
Significant RestrictionsEvery beekeeper in Louisiana must register every colony and apiary with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry on or before October 1 each year, or before bringing bees into the…
Maine
Some RestrictionsMaine regulates honey-bee colonies through statewide inspection and disease control administered by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; residential beekeeping…
Maryland
Some RestrictionsMaryland law requires every beekeeper to register their apiary with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and authorizes statewide inspection, treatment, and quarantine of colonies…
Massachusetts
Some RestrictionsMassachusetts authorizes its chief apiary inspector to require registration of every bee colony kept in the commonwealth, with a fee capped at five dollars per registrant regardless of…
Michigan
Few RestrictionsMichigan sets no statewide beekeeper license or registration. Under the Apiary Law, 1976 PA 412, MDARD runs voluntary hive inspections and holds standby authority to quarantine bee…
Minnesota
Few RestrictionsMinnesota keeps honey bees under a hands-off regime. Section 17.445 directs the Department of Agriculture to inspect apiaries only on request, and there is no statewide license…
Mississippi
Some RestrictionsMississippi regulates beekeeping primarily for disease control through the Bureau of Plant Industry. The state Apiary Law authorizes inspections, transport certificates, and…
Missouri
Some RestrictionsMissouri does not license backyard hives, but it is unlawful to move bees, combs, or used beekeeping equipment into the state without a permit from the Department of Agriculture, which…
Montana
Some RestrictionsMontana requires all beekeepers to register hives with the Department of Agriculture annually. The state apiary law preempts local registration mandates and sets disease standards…
Nebraska
Some RestrictionsNebraska does not license backyard beekeeping, but the Nebraska Apiary Act makes it unlawful to knowingly keep untreated diseased colonies and requires owners to report contagious bee…
Nevada
Some RestrictionsNevada law makes it unlawful to keep bees in anything other than movable-frame hives, so inspectors can open colonies to check for disease. The State Department of Agriculture enforces…
New Hampshire
Few RestrictionsNew Hampshire does not require beekeepers to register their hives. Apiary registration with the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food is voluntary and free. RSA 429 and the Agr…
New Jersey
Few RestrictionsNew Jersey requires beekeepers who overwinter colonies to register annually with the Department of Agriculture, and statewide beekeeping rules limit how far towns may restrict…
New Mexico
Some RestrictionsNew Mexico Statutes Chapter 76, Article 9 governs beekeeping statewide, requiring commercial apiary registration with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Importation of honey…
New York
Some RestrictionsAgriculture and Markets Law Article 15 establishes a uniform statewide apiary inspection program with mandatory disease control standards applicable to all hives in New York.
North Carolina
Few RestrictionsNorth Carolina law protects backyard beekeeping statewide. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-645, no county may ban owning five or fewer hives, and any city ordinance must permit up to five…
North Dakota
Some RestrictionsNorth Dakota requires every beekeeper to obtain an annual state license and register apiary locations with the Department of Agriculture under NDCC Chapter 4.1-16. The $5 license…
Ohio
Light RestrictionsOhio law makes every beekeeper register each apiary with the Ohio Department of Agriculture by June 1, and every hive must have removable frames so the state apiary inspector can check…
Oklahoma
Few RestrictionsOklahoma runs a voluntary apiary registration program under 2 O.S. § 2-3-113. Keeping bees needs no state license, but the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry issues…
Oregon
Some RestrictionsOregon Department of Agriculture requires all beekeepers with five or more hives to register annually under ORS 602.090. Registration funds apiary inspection and pest monitoring…
Pennsylvania
Some RestrictionsPennsylvania's Bee Law requires all beekeepers to register their colonies annually with the Department of Agriculture for inspection and disease control.
Rhode Island
Some RestrictionsEvery apiary in Rhode Island must be registered annually with the Department of Environmental Management by March 1 under R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-12. Beekeepers report their bees, hive…
South Carolina
Some RestrictionsSouth Carolina regulates the movement and disease inspection of honey bees under Title 46, Chapter 37, administered by Clemson's Department of Plant Industry. Bees brought into the…
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsSouth Dakota requires apiary registration with the State Apiarist at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources under SDCL Chapter 38-18 (bee-disease control)…
Tennessee
Some RestrictionsTennessee's Apiary Act of 1995 requires every beekeeper who owns one or more colonies to register each apiary location with the state apiarist, then re-register every three years. New…
Texas
Light RestrictionsTexas keeps beekeeping light-touch: registration with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service is voluntary, not required to own hives. Beekeepers may register annually with the chief…
Utah
Some RestrictionsUnder Utah Code 4-11-104, you cannot keep bees in Utah without registering with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. File within 30 days of getting bees, list your colony…
Vermont
Some RestrictionsAnyone who owns bees, a colony, or a hive anywhere in Vermont must register each apiary in writing with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and pay a $10.00 annual fee for…
Virginia
Few RestrictionsVirginia regulates beekeeping at the state level via Title 3.2 Chapter 44, including voluntary registration and Right-to-Farm protection on agricultural land.
Washington
Some RestrictionsWashington RCW 15.60 requires all beekeepers with one or more hives to register their apiaries annually with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, supporting disease tracking…
West Virginia
Some RestrictionsWest Virginia's Apiary Law requires all beekeepers to register their colonies with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes the state apiarist to inspect hives, quarantine diseased…
Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWisconsin requires beekeepers to register colonies with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). State apiary inspection law applies uniformly statewide…
Wyoming
Some RestrictionsWyoming requires beekeepers to register colonies with the State Department of Agriculture under the apiary statutes. The state inspects for diseases and pests, and registration…
Cities & Counties with Beekeeping Rules
412 locations
Arizona
California
Other Animal Ordinances Topics
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
Wildlife Feeding
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Requirements that dogs and cats over a certain age be sterilized, with intact-animal permits, exemptions for breeders, and penalties for noncompliance.
Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Coyote Management
How your city handles urban coyotes, including hazing protocols, feeding bans, and what residents should do when sighting one near homes.
Pet Store Rules
Restrictions on retail pet sales, including bans on commercially bred dogs and cats and rescue-only sourcing requirements.
Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC §53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
CDFW and city permits required to rehabilitate injured wildlife, including the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit program and approved holding facilities.