Hesperia, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Section 16.20.690 (Art. XIII) explicitly governs 'Apiary' designation alongside residential and agricultural designations; the Animal Quantities Matrix posted by the City sets the maximum colony counts by lot size. Hesperia does not impose a city-issued beekeeping permit separate from the Development Code's land-use authorization. State law is the operative permitting regime: Cal. Food & Ag. Code §29040 requires annual registration of every apiary (one or more colonies) with the County Agricultural Commissioner; San Bernardino County administers this through the statewide BeeWhere portal (beewhere.calagpermits.org). Registration is due by January 1 each year; new beekeepers must register within 30 days of acquiring colonies. Fees are typically $10 (1–9 colonies, often waived), $100 (10–49), and $250 (50+). Apiary nuisance complaints (aggressive bees, swarming) are handled by Hesperia Animal Control (760) 947-1700 — the City's Wild Animals page advises calling a beekeeper for swarms and an exterminator if Africanized bees nest in a structure.