Sonoma County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Beekeeping in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed primarily by California state apiary law administered locally by the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (the Agricultural Commissioner). Under Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040 and the related sections in that article, every person who owns or possesses an apiary in California must register the number of colonies and the location of each apiary with the Agricultural Commissioner of the county where the bees are located. Registration is due by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of acquiring an apiary, and expires December 31.

Section 29044 sets an annual registration fee of $10; hobbyist beekeepers with nine or fewer hives who are not in the business of beekeeping are exempt from the fee but are still required to submit the registration form. Commissioners use the data to track bee diseases, coordinate Varroa mite management, and respond to Africanized honey bee detections. Where colonies are kept on a parcel may also be subject to the County Zoning Code's animal-keeping standards administered by Permit Sonoma, so the placement and number of hives can depend on a property's zoning district. Confirm current details with the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner before establishing hives.