Dayton, OH Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 3,000 sq ft for any hive
- Hive cap
- 2 hives on 3,000-7,000 sq ft lots
- Setback
- 10 feet from lot lines, dwellings
- State registration
- required under R.C. Ch. 909
- Prohibited
- Africanized bees citywide
Summary
Dayton's zoning code lets residents keep bees on lots as small as 3,000 square feet, with hive counts scaled to lot size and mandatory 10-foot setbacks from lot lines and dwellings.
No beehive shall be kept on a zoning lot less than 3,000 square feet in area. A maximum of two hives are permitted on zoning lots between 3,000 and 7,000 square feet in area. Additional hives may be added at the rate of one (1) hive for every additional 3,000 square feet of lot area.
(2) Locations and Setbacks. No beehive shall be kept closer than ten (10) feet from any lot line and ten (10) feet from a dwelling or the permitted placement of a dwelling on another lot. No beehive shall be kept in a required front setback or corner side setback. No hive shall be placed within thirty (30) feet of any public sidewalk or roadway. The front of any beehive shall face away from the property line of the residential lot closest to the beehive.
Rooftop hives shall be setback six (6) feet from the edge of a roof. Hives located within twenty (20) feet of a door or window of an abutting lot must face away from such doors or windows or a flyway barrier as outlined in 150.420.1(A)(3) shall be applied.
(3) Fences and Shrubs. A solid fence or dense living hedge at least six (6) feet in height shall be placed along the side or rear property line for any hive within ten (10) feet of the lot line. The solid fence or dense living hedge shall extend at least twenty
(20) feet on either side of the hive. A "flyway barrier" consisting of solid fence or
Full Breakdown
Section 150.420.1 of Dayton's Zoning Code sets a full beekeeping standard for residential districts: no hive on a lot under 3,000 square feet, a two-hive cap on lots between 3,000 and 7,000 square feet with one additional hive per extra 3,000 square feet, and a 10-foot setback from lot lines and dwellings (30 feet from sidewalks or roads). A 6-foot solid fence or hedge is required around hives placed within 10 feet of a lot line, beekeepers must hold an Ohio apiary registration under R.C. Chapter 909, and Africanized bees are banned outright.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces hive placement and registration failures as zoning code violations, with notice-of-violation, civil penalty, and misdemeanor citation authority under the code's enforcement provisions; hives lacking a valid Apiary Identification number or expired state certificate must be removed within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small a lot can have a beehive in Dayton?
How far must a hive be from my neighbor's yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dayton
Compare Dayton to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.