Lake County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

California's beekeeping framework is primarily state-level. The Apiary Protection Act, codified in the California Food and Agricultural Code, Division 13 (sections 29000-29322), requires every person who owns or possesses bees in the state to register their apiary annually with the Agricultural Commissioner in the county where the bees are located. There is no exemption based on colony count or land use - even a single backyard hive must be registered, and registration is generally due by January 1 each year, with new beekeepers registering within a set window after acquiring bees. California has also moved apiary registration onto the statewide 'BeeWhere' system administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture. For Lake County specifically, residents register with the Lake County Agricultural Commissioner. On the local-rules side, where hives may be placed on a given parcel is governed by Lake County zoning, and the animal-keeping provisions of the County Code (Chapter 4) and nuisance rules can apply if hives create a documented hazard or nuisance. As an agricultural, wine-country county, Lake County is broadly hive-friendly, and managed pollinators support local orchards and vineyards. The County's published animal materials do not impose a separate countywide numeric hive limit or setback distinct from zoning, so the binding requirements for most beekeepers are: (1) register the apiary with the County Agricultural Commissioner under state law, and (2) confirm that the parcel's zoning allows hives at the intended location. Confirm any parcel-specific limits with Lake County Community Development before placing hives near a property line.