Daly City has no comprehensive backyard-beekeeping ordinance in its code; bee-keeping is governed primarily by California state law. Under Cal. Food & Agricultural Code §29040, every apiary owner, broker, or possessor in California must annually register the number of colonies and the location of each apiary with the county agricultural commissioner by January 1 (or within 30 days thereafter). Apiary registration data is confidential under FAC §29041 and may only be shared with the state, county ag departments, and licensed pesticide applicators. Hives kept in Daly City must not create a nuisance under Daly City Municipal Code Title 6 / Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare).
Apiaries operating in Daly City must register annually with the San Mateo County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, which is the county-level enforcement agency for Cal. Food & Ag Code §29040. The state registration form requires the colony count and the precise location of each apiary. FAC §29041 protects that data as confidential and privileged so the public cannot obtain it through a records request. Beyond registration, Daly City does not require a separate beekeeping permit, but bees that swarm, sting neighbors, or otherwise interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of adjacent property can be abated as a public nuisance under the municipal code. Best-practice setbacks (typically 5-10 feet from property lines plus flyway barriers) are widely adopted by Bay Area cities and recommended by the California Master Beekeeper Program even where not codified.
Failure to register an apiary is a violation of Cal. Food & Ag Code §29040 and is enforced by the county agricultural commissioner. Hives that create a nuisance are subject to Daly City Title 1 general-penalty enforcement (typically up to $1,000 per day for continuing violations) and to abatement under Title 8.
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