Fairfax, VA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- State registration
- Required annually
- Side or rear setback
- 10 feet typical
- Front setback
- 25 feet typical
- Flyway barrier
- 6 feet tall when close
- Water source
- Required on-site
Summary
Beekeeping is allowed in the City of Fairfax subject to state registration with the Virginia State Apiarist and zoning setbacks in the local code. Hives typically must be set back 10 to 25 feet from property lines, screened by a flyway barrier, and kept with a water source on-site.
§ 3.2-4400. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Apiary" means any place where one or more colonies of bees are kept.
"Appliance" means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device used in the handling and manipulating of bees, honey, wax, hives, and hive parts and shall include containers used in transporting, processing, storing, or merchandising bees and bee products.
"Bee" means the honeybee, Apis mellifera and genetic variations thereof, at any living stage; and may include other hymenopterous insects that depend on pollen and nectar for food.
"Bee diseases" means departures from a sound state of health of bees characterized by visible symptoms including American foulbrood and any other diseases, insects, mites, or bee pests.
"Bee equipment" means hives and hive parts including frames, supers, covers, bottom boards, and beekeeping apparel.
"Brood comb" means the assemblage of cells containing any living stage of bees at any time prior to their emergence as adults.
"Certificate of health" means a state-of-origin document prepared and signed by the State Apiarist or other authorized person declaring the bees, bee equipment, appliances, apiaries, and honey houses to be free of bee diseases.
"Colony" means a queenright assemblage of social bees capable of reproducing.
"Combless package" means a shipping container for transporting bees or queens.
"Entry permit" means a state-of-destination document prepared by the State Apiarist or other authorized person authorizing the entry of bee equipment, appliances, and bees on combs into the Commonwealth.
"Hive" means a box, skep, barrel, log gum, or other container used as a domicile for bees.
"Honey house" means any building where honey for commercial use is extracted, graded, processed, packed, or stored.
Full Breakdown
, with local zoning supplementing for setbacks and nuisance control. Beekeepers in the City of Fairfax must register colonies annually with the State Apiarist, a free process that helps track disease and supports inspections. The city zoning ordinance typically requires hives to sit at least 10 feet from side and rear property lines and 25 feet from the front property line, with a solid fence or dense vegetation flyway barrier at least 6 feet tall when hives are within 10 to 25 feet of a property line.
Beekeepers must maintain an on-site water source so bees do not congregate at neighbor pools or birdbaths. Hive density is generally capped by lot size, and Africanized honey bees are prohibited. Nuisance swarms or aggressive hives can be ordered removed under Chapter 14 when complaints are substantiated. Honey sales as a cottage food operation follow the 2023 Virginia Cottage Food Law if annual sales are below the statutory threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a local permit to keep bees?
How many hives can I have?
Can I sell honey from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fairfax County handle beekeeping.