Hanford, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Bees allowed
- only on agricultural-zoned land
- Residential beekeeping
- unlawful citywide
- Declared
- a public nuisance if kept
- Remedy
- removal or destruction of hive
Summary
Hanford, California bans keeping any swarm or colony of bees anywhere in the city unless the property is zoned for agricultural use, with no residential-yard exception.
It shall be unlawful for any individual or entity to bring, have, keep, or maintain, within the city, at any time, any swarm or swarms, colony or colonies of bees, llamas, roosters, pigeons, turkeys, peafowl, waterfowl, ostriches and other ratitae birds, or livestock on any premises within the city that have not been zoned for agricultural use; provided however, the keeping of livestock shall be allowed at special events approved by the city, including, without limitation, the Kings County Fair and parades. The term "swine" as used in this section does not include pot-bellied pigs harbored in accordance with restrictions related to noise or sanitation as provided under this chapter. (Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873707; v4 updated 2026-03-17).
Full Breakdown
Hanford Municipal Code § 6.08.070 makes it unlawful to bring, have, keep, or maintain any swarm or colony of bees within the city on premises that are not zoned for agricultural use. The ban sits alongside identical restrictions on llamas, roosters, waterfowl, ostriches and other ratite birds, and livestock in the same section: all barred citywide outside agricultural zoning, with only a narrow carve-out letting livestock (not bees) appear at city-approved special events like the Kings County Fair and parades. A Hanford homeowner in a standard residential zone cannot keep a backyard hive legally.
Violations & Fines
Bees kept outside an agriculturally zoned property are declared a public nuisance under § 6.08.080, and the city may remove, or, if safety requires and removal isn't feasible, destroy, the hive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a beehive in my Hanford backyard?
What happens if I keep bees illegally in Hanford?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hanford
California rules heatmap·Compare Hanford to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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