Fort Collins, CO Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Division 2 of Chapter 4, Sec. 4-226 through 4-237, regulates apiaries citywide. Colony densities under Sec. 4-233 scale with tract size: two colonies on a quarter acre or less, four on up to half an acre, six on up to one acre, eight on one acre or more, and no numeric limit at all where every hive sits at least 200 feet from every property line; keepers may also hold one nucleus colony per two authorized colonies, but it must be combined or disposed of within sixty days.

Sec. 4-229 requires a flyway barrier, a solid wall, fence, dense vegetation or combination at least six feet high, running parallel to the line and extending ten feet past the colony in each direction, whenever a hive sits within twenty-five feet of a property line, forcing bees to fly above six feet over that line; the requirement does not apply if the adjoining land is undeveloped for at least twenty-five feet. Hives must use movable-comb construction kept sound and usable (Sec. 4-228), beekeepers must keep a water source on site so bees don't swarm neighbors' pools or birdbaths (Sec.

4-230), and aggressive or overly swarm-prone colonies must be requeened with gentler stock (Sec. 4-232). Sec. 4-234 requires the beekeeper's name and phone number marked on at least two hives at opposite ends of the apiary, unless the keeper lives on the same tract. , with prior notice where practicable (Sec. 4-235), and Sec. 4-236 declares any colony kept out of compliance, any unhoused swarm, or any abandoned hive a nuisance that the City Manager may summarily destroy or remove, returning salvageable hive components to the beekeeper at the beekeeper's expense on request.