Cambridge permits urban beekeeping with MDAR registration under MGL c.128 s.31A; hives must meet 10-foot setbacks and include a water source and flyway barrier.
Beekeeping is permitted in Cambridge residential and mixed-use districts as part of the 2014 Urban Agriculture zoning reforms. All Cambridge beekeepers must register their hives annually with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) as required by MGL Chapter 128 Section 31A. Locally, Cambridge Chapter 6.04 and the zoning ordinance require hives be placed at least 10 feet from any property line, with a 6-foot flyway barrier (fence or hedge) redirecting bees above head height when hives face a neighboring yard. A fresh water source must be maintained on the beekeeper property to prevent bees from foraging in neighbor pools and birdbaths. Maximum of 2 hives on lots under 5,000 square feet; larger lots may host up to 4. Beekeepers should notify abutters in writing before installing hives. Aggressive swarms must be requeened within 30 days.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Cambridge, MA
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