Kent allows residential beekeeping as an accessory use with setbacks and hive-count limits. All apiaries in Washington must be registered with WSDA by April 1 each year under RCW 15.60.
Kent does not have a dedicated beekeeping chapter in the city code but applies zoning accessory-use standards modeled on common Puget Sound practice. Typical Kent residential beekeeping rules follow regional norms: up to 4 hives on a standard single-family lot, hives set back at least 25 feet from any property line with entrances facing away from neighbors, and a flyway barrier at least 6 feet tall within 25 feet of the hive if the setback cannot be met. A fresh water source must be maintained on-site to keep bees from visiting neighboring pools and birdbaths. At the state level, RCW 15.60 and WAC 16-602 require every apiary in Washington to be registered annually with the Washington State Department of Agriculture by April 1. Registration fees are tiered by hive count. Africanized honey bees are not established in Washington and are not an enforcement issue. Bee swarms should be reported to the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association rather than exterminated.
Hive placement violations are handled through Kent Code Enforcement. Unregistered apiaries face WSDA penalties under RCW 15.60.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle beekeeping.
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