Chico does not have a stand-alone hive-density ordinance; beekeeping is regulated as accessory animal keeping under CMC §19.76.040. State law (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §29040) requires every California beekeeper to register apiaries annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner by January 1, regardless of hive count. Butte County administers registration via the state BeeWhere portal.
Chico's municipal code does not impose specific hive-count limits, set-back distances, or flyway-barrier rules for honeybees; hives are treated as accessory animal keeping under CMC Title 19.76.040 and remain subject to nuisance abatement under CMC Title 8 (Health & Safety) if they cause a documented hazard or repeated stings. The substantive regulation is at the state and county level. Cal. Food & Agric. Code §29040 requires every person who keeps one or more honey bee colonies to register annually with the Agricultural Commissioner of every county where bees are located, on or before January 1. Registration is filed through BeeWhere (beewhere.calagpermits.org). Fees per CDFA schedule: $10 for 1-9 colonies (often waived for hobbyists), $100 for 10-49 colonies, $250 for 50+ colonies. Butte County's Agricultural Commissioner (25 County Center Dr, Oroville) coordinates pesticide notifications, swarm-removal referrals, and brand-number assignments. Africanized honey bee (AHB) management practices are recommended given Butte County's Sacramento Valley location. Chico is the home of Olivarez Honey Bees and Dadant & Sons, reflecting an active local apiculture industry.
Failure to register an apiary is a violation of state law (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §29040) and can subject the keeper to civil penalties through the County Agricultural Commissioner. Hives causing a documented nuisance in Chico can be abated under CMC Title 8.
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