Jackson County, GA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted districts
- PCFD and A-2 only
- Prohibited in
- All residential and AR districts
- Residence setback
- 150 feet for boarding/breeding structures
- State compliance
- Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture license required
- Table reference
- UDC Table 2-1, cross-ref Sec. 3-021
Summary
Unincorporated Jackson County allows beekeeping, listed as 'Animal production: other (e.g., bees, rabbits)' on the UDC's zoning use table, only in the PCFD Planned Commercial Farm District and the A-2 Agricultural Rural Farm District. It is prohibited in R-1, R-2, R-3, AR, and every other district, and UDC Sec. 3-021 sets a 150-foot residence setback for the structures involved.
P = Permitted S = Special Use X = Prohibited See Also ... Sec. 3-006 PCFD A-1 A-2 A-3 AR R-1 R-2 R-3 MH NRC CRC HRC LI GI HI ... Animal production: other (e.g., bees, rabbits) 3-021 P X P X X X X X X X X X X X X ... (a)Separation from residence. Any use, structure, or building for the boarding (for more than 12 hours) or breeding of non-domestic animals shall be located no closer than 150 feet of any existing residence, excluding any residence on the same site as said use structure or building.
Full Breakdown
, bees, rabbits)' with a cross-reference to Sec. 3-021, marked 'P' (permitted) only in the PCFD Planned Commercial Farm District and the A-2 Agricultural Rural Farm District. Every other zoning district shown on the table, including A-1, A-3, AR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, NRC, CRC, HRC, LI, GI, and HI, carries an 'X,' meaning apiaries and similar animal-keeping uses are prohibited there, so a backyard hive is not a permitted use in the county's standard residential or AR districts. The cross-referenced Sec. 3-021, 'Boarding or breeding of animals,' sets the setback that applies to any structure or building used for the boarding, for more than 12 hours, or the breeding of non-domestic animals: it must be located no closer than 150 feet from any existing residence, other than a residence on the same site as the use. A. Sec. 4-11-14, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division rules at Chapter 40-13-13.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees or a similar apiary use in a district marked 'X' on Table 2-1, meaning anywhere outside PCFD or A-2, is an unpermitted use the Public Development Department can cite under the UDC. Even where beekeeping is allowed, placing a hive structure used for boarding or breeding animals closer than 150 feet to a neighboring residence, or operating without a required state agriculture license, violates the standards set in Sec. 3-021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a beehive in my R-1 backyard?
How far must a hive sit from a neighbor's house?
Do I need a state license to keep bees commercially?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson County
Compare Jackson County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.