Hemet has its OWN detailed beekeeping ordinance in Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article III (Secs. 10-101 to 10-113). It limits colonies by lot size, requires Langstroth hives, water, setbacks of 300 ft from roads and 500 ft from dwellings, and six-foot flyway barriers near homes.
Beekeeping is one area where Hemet writes its own rules rather than relying on the county. Chapter 10, Article III (originally Ordinance No. 1492, 1994) sets sound-beekeeping standards. Colony density (Sec. 10-108) is tied to tract size: 2 colonies on a quarter-acre or less; 4 colonies on more than 1/4 but less than 1/2 acre; 6 colonies on 1/2 to under 1 acre; and 8 colonies on one acre or larger. There is no colony limit where all hives sit at least 200 feet from every property line, or where surrounding property within 200 feet stays undeveloped. Hives must be Langstroth-type with removable frames (Sec. 10-104). Apiaries must be at least 300 feet from any public road and 500 feet from the nearest dwelling or business unless the owner/occupant consents (Sec. 10-109). Where a colony is near a dwelling, business, schoolyard, or gathering place, the beekeeper must maintain a flyway barrier at least six feet high extending ten feet beyond the colony in each direction (Sec. 10-110). Beekeepers must supply water within 300 feet (Sec. 10-105), re-queen aggressive colonies (Sec. 10-107), mark hives or post a sign (Sec. 10-111), allow city inspection 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sec. 10-112), and must be certified/registered with the State as required by law (Sec. 10-103).
Sec. 10-113 lets the city investigate complaints, hold a hearing before the safety manager, and order bees destroyed or removed (and barred from the tract for two years) for violations. Feral colonies, swarms, abandoned hives, and dangerously aggressive bees can be abated without a hearing.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
hemet-ca
Under California SB 1383, Hemet (via hauler CR&R) provides curbside organics recycling: food scraps go in the green organics cart with yard waste, weekly. Ba...
hemet-ca
Hemet has no ordinance prohibiting artificial turf, and California law (Government Code 53087.7) bars cities from banning synthetic grass or drought-tolerant...
hemet-ca
Hemet encourages drought-tolerant landscaping for its hot inland climate and plants drought-tolerant shade trees in public spaces. New and rehabilitated land...
hemet-ca
Hemet has no ordinance prohibiting residential rainwater harvesting, and California law broadly allows rain barrels and cisterns without a water-rights permi...
hemet-ca
Hemet runs its own groundwater-based water utility and adopted a Water Conservation Plan (ORD-2022-1997). Level 2 actions limit irrigation to no daytime wate...
hemet-ca
Hemet's Fire Department runs an annual weed and rubbish abatement program under Municipal Code Sec. 30-31, backed by California Government Code 39560. Owners...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle beekeeping.
See how Hemet's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.