Hanover County, VA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

2 of the Zoning Ordinance (chapter 26) permits residential beekeeping in Hanover County outside the Town of Ashland, but only on lots zoned RS, R-1, R-2 or R-3 with a single-family use. The section defines a "colony" as an aggregate of bees with a queen, brood, combs and honey, and a "nucleus colony" as a smaller hive with a laying queen and enough workers to cover three to five combs. A property may keep no more than two production colonies plus one nucleus colony. Every colony must be housed in a hive with removable frames kept in sound, usable condition, and the hive and its equipment may sit only in the rear yard, at least 15 feet from every side and rear lot line.

A flyway barrier at least six feet high, made of a solid wall, fence or dense evergreen planting, must run parallel to the property line and extend ten feet beyond the hive in each direction so bees are forced to fly above six feet before crossing onto a neighbor's lot. Keepers must supply a water source on the property year-round so bees do not swarm pools, pet bowls or birdbaths next door, keep the site free of waste, and store or shield equipment from view.

A sign naming the property owner and a phone number to call in an emergency must be posted where it is visible. Because this rule sits in the Zoning Ordinance, a violation is enforced by the Hanover County Zoning Administrator under Section 26-347: a notice of violation issues first, and if it is not corrected, Section 26-348 sets a civil penalty of $200 for the initial summons and $500 for each later summons arising from the same facts, appealable to the Board of Zoning Appeals.