Homestead, FL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Florida is a bee-friendly state with the Florida Bee Act (FL Statute Section 586) establishing a regulatory framework for beekeeping. Homestead beekeepers must register their apiary with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and submit to periodic inspections. Hives should be placed with consideration for neighbors — maintaining flyway barriers (fences or hedges) to redirect bee flight paths above head height, providing water sources to prevent bees from using neighbors' pools or pet bowls, and keeping hives oriented away from neighboring living areas. There is no statewide limit on the number of hives, but best practices suggest matching colony count to available forage. Homestead's extensive agricultural operations (tropical fruit, nurseries) make the area excellent for beekeeping, and bees provide essential pollination services. Africanized honey bees are present in South Florida, and beekeepers should maintain European honey bee stock and re-queen regularly to minimize aggressive genetics.