Kane County, IL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Non-domestic bees
- Prohibited outright
- Setback from property line
- 5 feet minimum
- Setback from sidewalk/path
- 10 feet minimum
- Under 1/4 acre limit
- 2 permanent + 2 temporary hives
- 5+ acres limit
- No limit
- State registration
- Mandatory, state-inspected
Summary
Backyard beekeeping is legal in unincorporated Kane County under Code Sec. 15-2D6, but hives can't sit in the front yard, must clear 5 feet from any property line and 10 feet from a sidewalk, and the number of hives allowed scales with parcel size, from two on a small lot up to unlimited on 5-plus acres.
To keep bees in any manner not in compliance with the following: The keeping of non-domestic bees is prohibited. Hives may not be located in the front yard. Hives must be located a minimum of five (5) feet from any property line. Hives must be a minimum of ten (10) feet away from any sidewalk or publicly designated path. Parcel must have an adequate water source on site for the number of hives. All colonies must be registered with the State of Illinois, who inspects and regulates the colonies, and be kept in compliance with State rules and regulations... Less than one-quarter (1/4) of an acre Two (2) permanent hives and up to two (2) additional temporary hives...5 Acres or greater No limit for all parcels five acres or greater.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 26-183, passed 4-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Kane County Code Sec. 15-2D6 declares it a nuisance to keep bees out of compliance with the county's beekeeping standards. Non-domestic (feral) bees are banned outright. Hives cannot be placed in the front yard, must be at least 5 feet from any property line, and at least 10 feet from any sidewalk or publicly designated path, and the parcel must have an adequate on-site water source for the number of colonies kept. Every colony must be registered with the State of Illinois, which inspects and regulates it, and hives must be kept accessible for state inspectors on their normal schedule.
5 to 5 acres, with no cap at all once a parcel reaches 5 acres. Notably, Sec. 15-3A's general agricultural exemption from Chapter 15 does not shield small residential lots from these bee rules: it specifically states that residentially used parcels under 5 acres in or adjacent to residential neighborhoods are not exempt for beekeeping purposes, so the setback and hive-count table still governs even where the land isn't zoned agricultural. Enforcement follows the standard Chapter 15 path: a notice of violation under Sec. 15-5A, an administrative complaint under Sec. 00 per day under Sec. 15-6.
Violations & Fines
Keeping feral bees, placing hives in the front yard, ignoring the 5-foot or 10-foot setbacks, exceeding the lot-size hive cap, or failing to keep colonies registered and inspectable by the State of Illinois is declared a nuisance under Sec. 15-2D6. The county issues a notice of violation under Sec. 15-5A giving a deadline to correct it; an uncorrected violation moves to a formal complaint under Sec. 15-5B, and fines run up to $500.00 per day under Sec. 15-6, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees on a small residential lot in unincorporated Kane County?
Does the agricultural exemption in Chapter 15 cover backyard beekeeping?
How many hives can I keep as my lot gets bigger?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kane County
Compare Kane County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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