Caldwell, ID Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Caldwell's land use code section 10-02-15 enumerates the animals it treats as pets (such as cats, chickens, dogs, ducks, goats, rabbits, and similar small animals) and as livestock (such as cows, horses, sheep, and poultry). Honeybees do not appear in those lists, and a review of available sources did not locate a separate Caldwell ordinance setting hive numbers, setbacks, or registration for residential beekeeping. Where a city has no specific rule, beekeeping is governed primarily by Idaho's statewide apiary law. Idaho Code Title 22, Chapter 25 establishes the state apiary program administered by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), which handles apiary registration and inspection. Hobbyist beekeepers in Idaho are generally not required to register, though ISDA recommends it, and there is no statewide prohibition on keeping personal bee colonies. Beekeepers in Caldwell should still observe general nuisance principles and any applicable zoning and setback rules, since hives kept in a way that adversely affects neighboring properties could be addressed under the city's general nuisance and code compliance authority. Because beekeeping rules can change and zoning interpretations vary, anyone planning hives in the city should confirm directly with Caldwell Planning and Zoning and register or consult with the ISDA apiary program. This entry reflects the absence of a located city-specific beekeeping ordinance rather than an affirmative city permission scheme.