Cornelius, NC Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- State Preemption
- GS 106-635 protects 5 or fewer hives
- Setback
- 10 ft property line
- Flyway Barrier
- 6 ft if within 25 ft of neighbor
- Registration
- NCDA&CS voluntary, 10 dollars
- HOA Rules
- May restrict despite state law
Summary
Beekeeping is permitted in Cornelius residential zones with setback requirements. Hives must be at least 10 feet from property lines and behind a 6-foot flyway barrier if within 25 feet of a neighbor. Registration with NC Department of Agriculture recommended.
The General Assembly hereby declares that it is in the public interest to promote and protect the bee and honey industry in North Carolina and to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Board of Agriculture to perform services and conduct activities to promote, improve, and enhance the bee and honey industry in North Carolina particularly relative to small beekeepers; to regulate all bees of the superfamily Apoidea in any stage of development; the causal agents of their disease or disorders, and their pests; to protect the bee and honey industry in North Carolina from bee diseases and disorders and to provide regulatory services in the areas of pollination of plants, honeybee poisonings, thefts, bee management and marketing. (1977, c. 238, s. 1.) S 106-635.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
NC GS 106-635 (NC Bee and Honey Act of 1977) preempts local bans on 5 or fewer hives, meaning Cornelius cannot prohibit hobby beekeeping on any residential lot that otherwise meets setbacks. Cornelius applies reasonable setback and nuisance regulations: hives must be at least 10 feet from any property line; if placed within 25 feet of an adjoining dwelling or frequently-used area, a 6-foot tall flyway barrier (solid fence or dense hedge) is required to route bees upward above head height. Water sources should be provided on-site so bees do not forage at neighbor pools.
Registration with NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) Apiary Inspection Program is voluntary but recommended and unlocks pesticide-notification registry benefits for a 10 dollar fee. Commercial apiaries (200+ colonies) face additional licensing. HOAs in Cornelius lakefront neighborhoods (The Peninsula, Robbins Park, Magnolia Estates) often restrict or prohibit beekeeping via CC&Rs; NC GS 106-635 does NOT preempt HOA CC&Rs, only local-government bans. Africanized honey bees are not established in NC. Swarm removal by Mecklenburg County Beekeepers Association volunteers.
Violations & Fines
Inadequate setback or missing flyway barrier: 50 to 150 dollar civil penalty with 14-day cure period. Nuisance complaints where bees swarm pools or patios: town can order hive relocation. HOA CC&R violations: separate fines typically 25-100 dollars per occurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cornelius
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle beekeeping.