Plumas County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Plumas County is a rural agricultural county, and a search of its published County Code (Title 6 Animals and Title 9 Zoning) did not turn up a dedicated beekeeping or apiary ordinance setting hive counts or setbacks. In the absence of a specific county rule, beekeeping is controlled by California state law. The Apiary Protection Act, codified in the Food and Agricultural Code (Division 13, Sections 29000 et seq.), governs apiary health and operation through the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Under §29040, every person who owns or possesses an apiary located in California must register it annually — on or before January 1 each year — with the agricultural commissioner of the county where the apiary is located (or with the director if there is no commissioner). Registration applies regardless of colony count or purpose. There is a $10 annual fee, but hobbyist beekeepers with nine or fewer hives who are not in the business of beekeeping are exempt from the fee while still required to submit the registration form. California now administers registration through CDFA's statewide BeeWhere platform. Beekeepers should confirm current local requirements with the Plumas County Agricultural Commissioner, since state law also lets counties adopt local rules.