Stanislaus County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Stanislaus County's bee rules come from the Zoning Ordinance rather than the Animal Code. Section 21.12.530 defines 'small livestock farming' to include keeping 'more than... four permanent standard beehives.' The section then states that keeping animals in quantities less than those described is permitted in any district. Read together, this means up to four permanent standard beehives may generally be kept in any zoning district, while five or more hives constitutes small livestock farming and is restricted to zones that allow that use, such as the R-A Rural Residential district on parcels of one acre or more (Section 21.24.020) and agricultural districts. Stanislaus County is a major agricultural county where almond and other orchard pollination makes managed honeybees common, so hobby beekeeping at the small scale is broadly accommodated. Beekeepers should also be aware that California's Food and Agricultural Code requires apiaries to be registered with the county agricultural commissioner, and the County Agricultural Commissioner administers apiary registration and pesticide-notification programs locally. Because hive numbers and placement can raise nuisance concerns, keepers near neighbors should manage flight paths and water sources responsibly. Confirm current zoning for your parcel with Planning and Community Development before expanding past four hives.