Beekeeping is permitted on residential lots in unincorporated King County under KCC 21A.30. Hives need setback from property lines, and hobbyist beekeepers must register with WSDA under RCW 15.60.
King County Code 21A.30 allows beekeeping as an accessory use in residential and rural zones. Hives should be placed at least 10 feet from property lines with a 6-foot solid barrier or flyway screen between hives and adjacent properties if located within 25 feet of a property line, matching common Washington municipal standards. RCW 15.60 establishes the state apiarist program under WSDA; beekeepers maintaining hives must register with WSDA (forms at agr.wa.gov). Registration fee is 5 dollars per year for hobbyist beekeepers. Bees are classified as beneficial under state law and are protected from nuisance claims when properly managed. Africanized honey bees are not established in Washington; European honey bee populations are encouraged due to pollinator decline. Aggressive colonies must be requeened or relocated. Swarm capture is legal for licensed beekeepers. Neighbors concerned about bees should discuss hive placement with the beekeeper; enforcement is rare absent evidence of aggressive colonies.
Civil infraction for zoning violations under KCC 23.02. WSDA registration violations are separate state enforcement. Abandoned or disease-infested hives may be subject to abatement.
King County, WA
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King County, WA
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King County, WA
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King County, WA
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King County, WA
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