Beekeeping has been legal in The Bronx since 2010 under NYC Health Code Β§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 Β§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+.
Bronx County, NY
Open burning is prohibited in Bronx County under both NYC Fire Code FC 307 and 6 NYCRR Part 215. Burning leaves, brush, trash, or yard waste is illegal year-...
Bronx County, NY
Bronx County is not in a designated wildfire hazard zone. No WUI maps, Cal Fire-equivalent designations, or Chapter 7A-style construction rules apply in NYC.
Bronx County, NY
Bronx County follows NYC Fire Code (Title 29). Open flames and recreational fires are prohibited on terraces, balconies, roofs, and within 10 feet of combust...
Bronx County, NY
Backyard recreational fires are only allowed at 1-2 family homes with private yards, using approved portable fire pits under 3 feet wide. Apartment buildings...
Bronx County, NY
NYC Administrative Code 27-2045 requires working smoke alarms in every dwelling unit. Since 2019 all replacement alarms must be sealed 10-year battery or har...
Bronx County, NY
The Bronx is a dense urban borough with no wildland-urban interface, so there is no defensible space ordinance. Property owners must still maintain lots free...
See how Bronx County's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.