Billings, MT Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

City code makes keeping bees illegal by default: Sec. 4-305 prohibits maintaining hives or colonies of bees anywhere in Billings except at a city-permitted hobbyist apiary site. A hobbyist beekeeper (capped at two hives) must get an annual apiary permit from Billings Animal Control, register the site with the Montana Department of Agriculture, and file by April 1 each year. Site rules require hives at least 15 feet from adjacent property lines (or a 6-foot flight-barrier fence), a water source within 20 feet, no front-yard placement, and no siting on two-family or multi-family parcels.