Beekeeping is legal in Anchorage with no municipal permit. Hives must not create a nuisance under AMC Title 17. Alaska has no state bee registration. Short summers limit productivity.
Anchorage allows backyard beekeeping in residential zones without a specific permit. Hives must comply with general nuisance standards under AMC Title 17 and must not encroach on setbacks. Best-practice recommendations from the Alaska Sustainable Bee Association include rear-yard placement, a water source to reduce neighbor conflict, and flyway barriers (6 foot fencing or dense hedges). The growing season is short (late May through early September), so most Anchorage beekeepers overwinter with insulated wraps or treat colonies as annual. Alaska has no state-level apiary registration requirement. Foulbrood and varroa management is encouraged through the UAF Cooperative Extension Service.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Anchorage, AK
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See how Anchorage's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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