Beaumont, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Section 6.20.070 of the Beaumont Municipal Code makes it unlawful to keep more colonies on a tract than the tract's size allows: two colonies on one quarter acre or less, four on more than one-quarter acre but less than one-half acre, six on one-half acre but less than one acre, and eight on one acre or larger. Title 6 defines a tract as a contiguous parcel of land under common ownership and a colony as a hive and its equipment, including bees, comb, pollen and brood. Regardless of tract size there is no limit where all hives sit at least 200 feet in any direction from the property lines of the tract, or where all other property within a radius of at least 200 feet from any hive remains undeveloped. For each two authorized colonies a tract can also hold one nucleus colony, in a hive body no larger than one standard 9⅝-inch ten-frame box with no supers attached, and each nucleus colony must be disposed of or combined with an authorized colony within 30 days after it is acquired.

Chapter 6.20 adds management rules. Colonies must live in Langstroth type hives with removable frames (§ 6.20.020). A colony within 25 feet of a property line needs a flyway barrier at least six feet high, running ten feet past the colony in each direction (§ 6.20.030). Beekeepers must supply water so bees do not gather at pools or pet bowls (§ 6.20.040), dispose of comb in a sealed container (§ 6.20.050) and requeen aggressive or swarm-prone colonies (§ 6.20.060). At least two hives at opposite ends of an apiary must carry the beekeeper's name and telephone number, or a sign must be posted (§ 6.20.080). The Animal Services Officer can inspect any apiary between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (§ 6.20.090).