Carmel permits residential beekeeping as an accessory use under Unified Development Ordinance Section 5.02. Hive count scales with lot size — from one (1) hive on the smallest qualifying lots up to eight (8) hives on lots over 43,560 square feet (one acre). Hives must be at least three (3) feet apart, with water provided and aggressive colonies addressed.
Beekeeping in Carmel is regulated under the Unified Development Ordinance, Section 5.02 (Residential Accessory Building and Use Standards), which treats keeping bees as a residential accessory use rather than agriculture. The maximum number of hives permitted is tied to lot area, ranging from one (1) hive on the smallest qualifying lots (up to roughly 4,350 square feet) up to eight (8) hives on lots greater than 43,560 square feet (one acre). When more than one hive is present, 'hives shall be spaced at least three (3) feet apart.' Beekeepers must maintain a nearby water source for the bees and must address aggressive or swarming colonies. Indiana law overlays the local rule: under the Indiana apiary program, beekeepers register their colonies annually with the state (the registration requirement is administered by the Indiana State Chemist / DNR apiary program). Where beekeeping pre-dated current zoning as an agricultural nonconforming use, the City's ordinance allows it to continue if operated in compliance with state environmental and health laws and the annual bee-registration requirement. Honey produced for personal use is generally unregulated, though sales can trigger separate Indiana food-handling rules.
Exceeding the hive count permitted for the lot size, failing to maintain required spacing or water, or keeping bees without addressing an aggressive colony is a zoning/code-enforcement matter handled by Carmel Community Services (Code Enforcement), which can order abatement of the nonconforming use. Failure to register hives with the State of Indiana is a separate matter under state apiary law. Bees that become a documented nuisance to neighbors may also be addressed through the City's general nuisance enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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