Glendale, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

76 (Insect Control) treats honey bees among the stinging and biting insects subject to citywide control measures: every premises must be cleaned and effective insecticides applied as often as necessary to prevent insects that could endanger the public (Sec. 010(A)). Subsection B specifically makes it unlawful for any person to maintain or permit a beehive, nest or swarm to exist that may pose a danger to public health, safety or welfare. Two exemptions carve out lawful beekeeping. First, the prohibition does not restrict a 'professional beekeeper,' defined as a person holding a current registration as a beekeeper with the Los Angeles County department of agricultural commissioner, provided the activity is permitted under the city's zoning code (Sec.

010(B)(1)). Second, bees kept within an educational institution for study or observation, or in a physician's office or laboratory for medical research or treatment, are exempt as long as the bees are not permitted to fly at large (Sec. 010(B)(2)). Outside those two exceptions, a backyard hive that becomes a hazard is enforceable the same as any other insect-control violation. Enforcement runs through Sec. 020, which converts any prohibited or required act under the chapter into a misdemeanor for each incident and each day of noncompliance, and separately declares any violation a public nuisance subject to abatement. That dual-track structure lets Glendale pursue both criminal prosecution and civil nuisance abatement against a hazardous hive without one remedy precluding the other.