Beekeeping is allowed throughout Chesapeake subject to City Code Chapter 10 setback rules and state-level registration under VA Code section 3.2-4400 et seq. Hives must be registered annually with the Virginia Department of Agriculture (VDACS) State Apiarist.
Chesapeake permits residential beekeeping in most zoning districts. Local rules typically require hives to be placed at least 10 feet from property lines and 25 feet from public streets, with a flyway barrier (fence or hedge at least 6 feet high) if placed closer to lot lines. A water source must be provided on the beekeepers property to reduce neighbor issues. Beekeepers must register annually with VDACS under VA Code section 3.2-4400 et seq.; registration is free but the State Apiarist may inspect for American Foulbrood and other diseases. Hive density varies by lot size; most residential lots in Chesapeake (including the agricultural-residential zones common in southern Chesapeake near the Great Dismal Swamp) accommodate 2-4 hives without issue. HOAs may prohibit beekeeping. Africanized bees are rare in Virginia but reportable.
Unregistered hives: state warning and mandatory registration. Setback violations: civil penalty $100-$250. Aggressive colonies may be ordered removed.
Chesapeake, VA
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Chesapeake, VA
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Chesapeake, VA
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See how Chesapeake's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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