Winnebago County, IL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- R-A Subdistrict only
- Hive density
- 1 hive per 25,000 sq ft
- Setback from lot line
- 50 feet minimum
- Setback from dwellings
- 75 feet minimum
- Commercial sales
- Prohibited
Summary
Winnebago County allows apiaries only as an accessory use on R-A Subdistrict lots, capped at one hive per 25,000 square feet with mandatory setbacks.
18.3.3 Apiaries (Non-Agriculture Exempt). A. Apiaries are permitted in the R-A Subdistrict of the R-A District only (prohibited in R-E and R-R Subdistricts) and only as an accessory use to a single-family use. B. All colonies must be registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. C. One (1) beehive is permitted for every twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Under the Unified Development Ordinance, apiaries are permitted only in the R-A Subdistrict of the R-A District as an accessory use to a single-family home: they're banned outright in the R-E and R-R Subdistricts. Colonies must be registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, hives are capped at one per 25,000 square feet of lot area, and every hive must sit in the rear yard at least 50 feet from any lot line and 75 feet from any dwelling behind a 6-foot flyway barrier. Beekeepers must keep water on site, dispose of comb and hive debris in sealed containers, and requeen any colony that turns aggressive or swarm-prone. Selling honey or bee products commercially from the property is prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Zoning code enforcement can order noncompliant hives removed or relocated to meet setback and subdistrict rules; unregistered colonies also violate Illinois Department of Agriculture rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees anywhere in unincorporated Winnebago County?
Do I need to register my hives with the state?
Can I sell honey from my backyard hives?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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