La Mesa, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Under Section 8.04.040, the city treats beekeeping as prohibited everywhere unless the zoning ordinance carves out an exception, and Section 24.05.020(D)(3)(f)(1) confirms that exception exists only in the R1R and R1E residential zones, where bees may be kept if the keeper follows San Diego County Department of Agriculture rules. Even in those zones, three distance rules from Chapter 8.04 control. First, no apiary may sit within one hundred feet of the traveled portion of a public road if its location would create a nuisance or hazard to road users.

Second, no apiary may be placed closer than six hundred feet to any dwelling other than one occupied by the beekeeper, which in practice rules out beekeeping on most standard La Mesa lots since neighboring homes typically sit well within that radius. Third, anyone transporting hives between sunrise and sunset must keep the bees confined inside the vehicle with screens or an equally effective method so they cannot escape onto the road. The La Mesa Police Department, through its animal control officer, administers and enforces Title 8 under Section 8.04.070, and the animal control officer may issue citations under Penal Code Section 836.5.

Because keeping bees or an apiary outside the two permitted zones or inside the road and dwelling buffers violates this code section, violations default to the citywide general penalty in Section 1.01.080: an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars, since Title 8 is not among the code chapters elevated to misdemeanor status.