Arizona state law preempts local beekeeping bans under ARS 3-363. Pima County allows beekeeping in all residential zones. Africanized bee management is a concern in the Sonoran Desert region. The Arizona Department of Agriculture registers apiaries and handles swarm complaints.
ARS 3-363 establishes state-level regulation of apiaries and prevents counties from prohibiting beekeeping outright. Pima County permits hives on residential parcels with no specific hive-count limit in county code. Best practices recommend placing hives at least 25 feet from property lines and providing a flyway barrier (fence or hedge) of 6 feet or higher to redirect bee flight paths above pedestrian level. Africanized honey bees (AHB) are established throughout the Tucson basin and Pima County, making hive management and re-queening with European stock critical. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Tucson office) provides beekeeping resources for Sonoran Desert conditions. The Arizona Department of Agriculture Apiary Program handles complaints about aggressive hives and can order removal of nuisance colonies. Water sources must be provided on-site to prevent bees from visiting neighbor pools or pet dishes.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no outdoor music or amplified sound ordinance for unincorporated areas. ARS 13-2904 applies to unreasonable noise. Event venues may have CUP ...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. ARS §13-2904 applies.
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no general decibel limits for unincorporated areas. Industrial zone performance standards exist. ARS 13-2904 uses a reasonable person standar...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County Code Chapter 9.30 and animal control code (Chapter 6.04) cover excessive animal noise. Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) handles barking dog complai...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no leaf blower ordinance for unincorporated areas. Desert landscaping minimizes need. ARS 13-2904 covers extreme noise. HOAs provide primary ...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County Code Chapter 9.30 prohibits excessive, unnecessary, or offensive noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or causes discomfort ...
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