Beekeeping has been legal in The Bronx since 2010 under NYC Health Code §161.01. Beekeepers must register hives annually with DOHMH at no cost. Only Apis mellifera (European honeybee) is permitted. Africanized bees and aggressive colonies must be requeened or removed.
Prior to 2010, honeybees were classified as wild animals banned in NYC. The Board of Health amended §161.01 to remove honeybees from the prohibited list. Registration requires name, address, hive location, and contact info submitted annually to DOHMH at nyc.gov/health. Bronx beekeepers maintain rooftop hives in Mott Haven, community garden hives in the South Bronx, and backyard hives in Riverdale and Woodlawn. Hives should be set back from property lines with water sources and flyway barriers per NYCBA guidance. No formal setback distance is codified but neighbor complaints can trigger DOHMH investigation.
Unregistered hive: $200-$2,000. Nuisance colony failure to requeen: removal order plus $500+. Non-mellifera species: mandatory destruction and $1,000+.
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See how Bronx County's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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