Brunswick County, NC Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing use category
- Agricultural Uses, UDO § 5.1.1.A
- Permitted by right
- RR, C-LD, C-I, I-G districts
- Not permitted
- R-7500, R-6000, SBR-6000, MR-3200 districts
- Civil penalty
- $100.00 per day, UDO § 9.11.9.C
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Brunswick County's Unified Development Ordinance treats beekeeping (apiculture) as an agricultural use. The Use Table permits agricultural uses, including apiculture, by right only in the RR (Rural Low Density Residential), C-LD, C-I and I-G districts; it is not permitted in the R-7500, R-6000, SBR-6000 or MR-3200 residential districts. This rule applies only outside Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte and the county's other incorporated towns.
AGRICULTURAL USES Characteristics: Characterized by uses that create or preserve areas intended primarily for the raising of animals and crops, and the secondary industries associated with agricultural production. [...] Animal raising including horses, hogs, cows, sheep, goats, and swine, poultry, rabbits, and other small animals, apiculture, fish hatchery, aquaculture, dairying, personal or commercial animal breeding and development
Full Breakdown
Brunswick County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Appendix E to the Code of Ordinances, classifies beekeeping under 'Agricultural Uses' at § 5.1.1.A, which defines the category as uses intended primarily for the raising of animals and crops and lists as a principal use animal raising 'including horses, hogs, cows, sheep, goats, and swine, poultry, rabbits, and other small animals, apiculture, fish hatchery, aquaculture, dairying, personal or commercial animal breeding and development.' The Use Table at UDO § 5.2.3 then controls where that use is allowed: the 'Agricultural' row is marked 'P' (permitted by right) in the RR (Rural Low Density Residential), C-LD, C-I and I-G districts, and the cell is blank, meaning not allowed, in the R-7500, R-6000, SBR-6000 and MR-3200 residential districts.
In practice a hobbyist on an RR-zoned rural lot can keep hives by right under the county's general agricultural-use standards, while a homeowner in a platted R-6000 or MR-3200 subdivision cannot establish an apiary without a text amendment or a Planning Director determination under UDO § 5.2.1. Because beekeeping is grouped with the general 'Agricultural' use rather than given its own limited-use standard, no additional hive-count, setback or registration requirement appears in UDO § 5.3. This UDO governs only the unincorporated county; Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Calabash, Boiling Spring Lakes and the county's other incorporated municipalities each administer their own zoning code and may treat beekeeping differently.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees outside the districts where 'Agricultural' uses are permitted is a UDO violation. The Zoning Administrator issues a written notice of violation under § 9.11.2 and, if uncorrected, may pursue a $100.00 civil penalty per day the violation continues, permit denial or revocation, and an injunction under § 9.11.9; a criminal violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500.00 fine under North Carolina G.S. § 14-4, as incorporated at UDO § 9.11.9.D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep beehives on my property in Brunswick County, NC?
Does the county limit the number of hives?
Does this rule apply inside Leland or Oak Island?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brunswick County
Compare Brunswick County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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