San Diego County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Tier A setback
- 1-2 colonies, 35 ft from homes
- Tier B setback
- 3-20 colonies, 100 ft from homes
- Tier C setback
- 20+ colonies, 300 ft from homes
- Flyover barrier
- 6 ft, within 300 ft of homes
- Registration
- Annual, with County Ag Commissioner
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County sorts apiaries into three tiers by colony count, each with its own minimum setback from neighboring dwellings, roads, property lines and sensitive sites, plus annual Agricultural Commissioner registration.
Apiaries must be located at or greater than the following distances from a neighboring dwelling: (a) Tier A: Thirty-five (35) feet. (b) Tier B: One hundred (100) feet. (c) Tier C: Three hundred (300) feet. The distance will be measured from the nearest portion of the neighboring dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 9 (§§ 62.901 et seq.) applies to apiaries in the unincorporated area. Tier A (1-2 colonies) needs only a 35-foot setback from neighboring dwellings and 25 feet from roads; Tier B (3-20 colonies) needs 100 feet from dwellings; Tier C (20+ colonies) needs 300 feet. Apiaries with 20 or fewer colonies within 300 feet of a home must maintain a 6-foot flyover barrier. Beekeepers must register annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner and maintain a 10-foot bare-earth firebreak.
Violations & Fines
Commissioner may issue administrative citations under County Code §§ 18.101 et seq.; violating the transport rule (§62.921) is a misdemeanor under Food & Agricultural Code §§29300-29311, and other violations are misdemeanors under §§11.116 et seq.; abatement runs through §§16.201 et seq.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a beehive be to my neighbor's house in unincorporated San Diego County?
Do beekeepers need a permit in unincorporated San Diego County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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