Carrollton, TX Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Under § 91.007(A)(6), Carrollton makes it 'unlawful for any person to keep or allow bees, their hives, or any abandoned hives within the city limits,' with a narrow exception for honeybees kept under an annual Designated City Official (DCO) permit. To qualify, an owner must meet eight separate conditions: hives must sit at least ten feet from any property line; each hive must be surrounded by a barrier at least ten feet from the hive and eight feet tall to redirect the bees' flight path; no more than three hives are allowed per city lot; an adequate water source must sit within 20 feet of every hive; only one 'nucleus' colony may be maintained for every two full colonies, capped at a single ten-frame hive body and disposed of within 60 days of acquisition; every hive must be re-queened at least once every 24 months; and the owner must notify the DCO in writing of the hives' location and number, keeping purchase receipts and re-queening records for at least two years.

A permit holder who refuses a DCO inspection request during reasonable hours commits a separate offense under § 91.007(A)(7). The DCO can deny or revoke a beekeeping permit after a Municipal Court conviction for violating these standards; the beekeeper has 15 calendar days from written notice to appeal to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, whose decision on the appeal is final, though a denied applicant may reapply for a new permit at any time. This entire framework was adopted through Ordinance 4287 on November 18, 2025, replacing the prior chapter 91.