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Duluth, MN Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Hive cap: Five hives per lot, 20 cubic feet each
Property-line setback: 5 feet minimum for ground hives
Sidewalk/building setback: 15 feet sidewalk, 30 feet abutting building
Flyway barrier: 6 feet tall within 30 feet of hive
License: Annual, one per lot, city clerk

Summary

In the City of Duluth, keeping honeybees needs an annual city clerk license outside the Rural-Conservation and Residential-Rural 1 zones, and Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-80.1 caps every lot at five hives, limits each hive to 20 cubic feet, and requires setbacks from property lines, sidewalks and neighboring buildings plus a flyway barrier.

(a) Each person holding a license to keep honeybees within the city of Duluth shall comply with the following: (1) No more than five hives may be located on a lot; ... (4) No ground hive shall be located closer than five feet from any property line; ... (6) A flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall shield any part of a property line that is within 30 feet of a ground hive.

View official code

Full Breakdown

3; only one license is issued per lot, and if the applicant is not the property owner or operator, that owner or operator must co-sign the application as an additional signatory (renewals do not need fresh notification). 1 then sets the technical standards every licensee must follow: no more than five hives on a lot, no hive larger than 20 cubic feet in volume, and a constant water supply for every hive except during the dormant period. A ground hive cannot sit closer than five feet to any property line, closer than 15 feet to a public sidewalk, or closer than 30 feet to a principal building on an abutting lot.

Any part of a property line within 30 feet of a ground hive must be shielded by a flyway barrier at least six feet tall, made of wall, fence, dense vegetation or a combination, positioned to cross both legs of the triangle running from the hive to each end of the shielded property line. Rooftop apiaries are allowed but must stay at least 15 feet from a principal building on an abutting lot. The animal control authority can refuse or revoke a license if the bees become a nuisance.

Violations & Fines

Keeping honeybees without the Section 6-80 license, exceeding five hives per lot, running an oversized hive, or ignoring the property-line, sidewalk, building and flyway-barrier setbacks in Section 6-80.1 gives the animal control authority grounds to refuse or revoke the license if the bees are found to be a nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many beehives can I keep in Duluth?

Up to five per lot under Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-80.1(a)(1), with each hive capped at 20 cubic feet in volume, and only one annual keeping license issued per lot regardless of how many hives sit on it.

How far from my property line does a Duluth beehive have to be?

At least five feet from any property line, at least 15 feet from a public sidewalk, and at least 30 feet from a principal building on an abutting lot; a six-foot flyway barrier is also required within 30 feet of a ground hive.

Can I keep bees on my roof in Duluth?

Yes. Section 6-80.1(a)(7) allows rooftop apiaries, but they cannot sit closer than 15 feet to a principal building on an abutting lot, and the underlying Section 6-80 annual license from the city clerk still applies.

Sources & Official References

[1]Duluth Legislative Code

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