Suffolk County, NY Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Suffolk County Code § 299-88
- Fine
- $500 per offense
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Health Services
- Exemptions
- danger, court order, farming, migratory beekeepers
Summary
Before spraying or otherwise killing a honeybee colony or swarm, Suffolk County law requires the applicator to phone a beekeeper and seek help relocating the bees rather than exterminating them outright, unless the swarm is dangerous or already inside a structure.
Any person, including certified and licensed pesticide applicators and commercial pesticide applicators and operators operating in Suffolk County, shall contact a beekeeper by phone prior to the extermination of honeybees to obtain assistance in trying to relocate nuisance honeybee colonies or hanging swarms of honeybees, in lieu of destroying such honeybees immediately.
B. The purpose of the applicator's contact and consultation with the beekeeper shall be to obtain advice or assistance in trying to relocate a nuisance bee colony or hanging swarm, in lieu of immediate extermination of such bees by pesticide application. When the beekeeper is contacted, the applicator shall seek advice to enable relocation of the colony or swarm in a manner which facilitates preservation of the honeybees, in the most effective and safest way possible.
C. Any person, including certified and licensed pesticide applicators and commercial pesticide applicators and operators operating in Suffolk County, shall indemnify and hold harmless the County of Suffolk in any action or proceeding arising out of the relocation and preservation of honeybees in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Full Breakdown
Suffolk County Code § 299-88 requires anyone exterminating honeybees in the county, including certified and commercial pesticide applicators, to contact a beekeeper by phone before killing a nuisance colony or hanging swarm, so the beekeeper can advise on relocating the bees instead. The duty does not apply if the swarm is overly defensive, poses an imminent danger near a residence, business, or public right-of-way, is being destroyed under a court or agency order, is removed during ordinary farm/apiary management such as overwintering, or involves migratory beekeepers pollinating crops. Willful noncompliance draws a $500 fine per offense after a hearing before the Health Services Commissioner.
Violations & Fines
Willful noncompliance with the beekeeper-notification requirement carries a $500 fine per offense, imposed only after a hearing before the Health Services Commissioner or a designee, with notice and a right to counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to call a beekeeper before exterminating bees in Suffolk County?
What happens if I exterminate bees without contacting a beekeeper first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Suffolk County to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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