Beekeeping is permitted in Washington DC. DOEE oversees urban beekeeping with standard practices for hive placement and colony numbers based on lot size. No specific license is required for small-scale residential beekeeping.
DC permits residential beekeeping, overseen by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Hive placement and the number of colonies should be appropriate for lot size, following standard urban beekeeping practices. There is no specific citywide permit required for small-scale residential beekeeping, though keepers should register with DOEE for disease monitoring purposes. Best practices include maintaining a water source for bees, orienting hive entrances away from neighboring properties, and maintaining flyway barriers (fences or hedges) to direct bee flight paths upward. The DC Beekeepers Alliance provides guidance and community support. Large-scale apiaries or commercial operations may require additional approvals.
Beekeeping that creates a public nuisance may be subject to animal control and health enforcement. Diseased hives may be ordered treated or destroyed by DOEE.
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See how District of Columbia's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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