Contra Costa County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration
- County Agricultural Commissioner
- Setback
- 10–20 ft from property lines
- Flyway Barrier
- 6 ft fence/vegetation if close to neighbor
- Water Source
- Required on-site
- AHB Rule
- Aggressive hives must be requeened
Summary
Beekeeping is allowed in most unincorporated Contra Costa County residential and agricultural zones subject to hive setbacks (typically 10–20 feet from property lines) and registration with the County Agricultural Commissioner. Africanized-bee incidents trigger mandatory requeening.
Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in which they maintain, possess, or are in possession of an apiary, or within 30 days thereafter, as prescribed in this article.
Full Breakdown
Contra Costa County permits hobby and commercial beekeeping in most agricultural and large-lot residential zones. The County Agricultural Commissioner requires registration of bee hives under California Food & Agricultural Code §29040: an annual registration identifying hive location and keeper. Typical requirements include: hives set back 10 to 20 feet from property lines, flyway barriers (fences or vegetation at least 6 feet tall) where hives are within 25 feet of a neighbor, and a fresh water source on-site to prevent bees from visiting neighbors' pools. Suburban residential zones allow small-scale beekeeping (typically 2–4 hives per parcel); larger agricultural parcels allow more.
Africanized honey bees (AHB) have been documented in parts of east Contra Costa County, and any hive showing aggressive behavior is subject to mandatory requeening with a European queen or destruction. Commercial beekeepers moving hives into the county must notify the Agricultural Commissioner and comply with Varroa-mite and American foulbrood inspection protocols. Neighbor complaints about aggressive hives or persistent stings can trigger County Ag Commissioner inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Discovery Bay?
What if my neighbor's bees keep stinging in my pool area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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