Federal Way, WA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 15,000 square feet before bees are allowed
- Hive cap under 20,000 sq ft
- Two hives maximum
- Hive cap 20,000-60,000 sq ft
- Five hives maximum
- Hive cap over 60,000 sq ft
- 15 hives maximum
- Standard setback
- 25 feet from every property line
- Reduced setback
- 10 feet if hives raised or screened
- State registration
- Required annually with WA Dept. of Agriculture before April
Summary
Federal Way lets residential property owners keep bees under FWRC 19.260.080, scaling hive counts to lot size: two hives under 20,000 square feet, five hives up to 60,000, and 15 hives above that. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from property lines, or 10 feet if elevated or screened, and be registered annually with the state.
19.260.080 Bees. Bees may be kept on the subject property subject to the following regulations: (1) Minimum lot size. The subject property must be at least 15,000 square feet in area. (2) Number of hives. Two hives are permitted if the subject property is less than 20,000 square feet in area. Five hives are permitted if the subject property is between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet in area. A maximum of 15 hives are permitted if the subject property is more than 60,000 square feet in area. (3) Location of hives. The hives must be at least 25 feet from each property line unless one of the following circumstances applies, in which case the hives must be at least 10 feet from each property line: (a) The hives are at least eight feet above the adjacent ground. (b) The hives are less than six feet above the adjacent ground and are behind a solid fence or hedge which is at least six feet in height. (4) Registration. All colonies shall be registered with the state department of agriculture prior to April of each year in which they are kept.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
260, the same animal-keeping chapter that covers chickens and livestock. A residential lot needs at least 15,000 square feet before bees are allowed at all. From there the hive count scales with lot size: two hives on a lot under 20,000 square feet, five hives on a lot between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet, and up to 15 hives once the lot exceeds 60,000 square feet. Placement matters as much as the count. Hives generally must sit at least 25 feet from every property line, but that setback drops to 10 feet if the hives are raised at least eight feet above the adjacent ground, or if they sit behind a solid fence or hedge at least six feet tall running parallel to the property line.
Every colony has to be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture before April of each year it is kept, on top of any city requirement. The colonies themselves must be housed in movable frame hives, with enough space around them to prevent overcrowding and swarming, and any hive that swarms or turns aggressive has to be requeened. 25 FWRC if a beekeeping site becomes a nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Beekeeping complaints go through the same civil enforcement track as other zoning violations, FWRC Chapter 1.15. The community development department issues a notice and order to correct hive placement, lot-size, or registration problems, and an uncorrected violation accrues $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, $300 for the third, and $500 for each one after that.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beehives can I have on my property in Federal Way?
How far do beehives have to be from my neighbor's property line?
Do I have to register my beehives with the state?
What happens if my beekeeping setup violates city rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle beekeeping.