Solano County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

There is no countywide chapter requiring a permit just to keep bees in unincorporated Solano County. Instead, California Food & Agricultural Code Section 29040 requires every beekeeper, regardless of hive count, to register apiary locations with the County Agricultural Commissioner where the hives are kept; this is administered statewide through the BeeWhere program at beewhere.calagpermits.org and locally through the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner's office. Registration helps protect colonies from incidental pesticide exposure since pesticide applicators must check for nearby apiaries. Zoning-based siting and density requirements are set by the individual cities: Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 6.24 (Bees and Beekeeping) requires a Beekeeping Permit in residential and commercial-with-residential districts; Dixon Municipal Code Chapter 7.04 (Bees) requires hives be at least 10 feet from any side property line and 50 feet from any dwelling not occupied by the keeper; Benicia Municipal Code Chapter 6.33 requires registration with the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner under FAC Section 29040. In unincorporated areas the underlying zoning district (typically Agricultural) determines whether apiaries are an allowed use.