Berkeley permits backyard beekeeping with registration and hive setback requirements, reflecting the city support for pollinator health and urban agriculture.
Berkeley Municipal Code allows honeybee keeping on residential properties with up to 2 hives per parcel under 5,000 sq ft and additional hives on larger lots. Hives must be set back at least 10 feet from property lines and positioned so that flight paths rise over a 6-foot barrier or fence before crossing onto neighboring property. Beekeepers must register with the Alameda County Agricultural Commissioner as required by California law. Berkeley encourages beekeeping as part of its climate action plan and partners with local groups like the Berkeley Beekeepers Association. Aggressive or swarming colonies can be ordered removed by Animal Care Services.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle beekeeping.
See how Berkeley's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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