Little Rock, AR Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Hobby hive limit
- 2 hives per residence
- Minimum lot size
- 50 x 100 feet
- Setback from structures
- 25 feet minimum
- Flyway barrier trigger
- within 50 ft of lot line
- Max fine
- $500 per violation
Summary
Little Rock caps hobby beekeeping at two hives per residential lot and requires 25-foot setbacks from dwellings and sidewalks.
The keeping of bees for hobby purposes shall be restricted to R-1, R-2, and R-3 single-family districts with lots of at least fifty by one hundred (50 x 100) feet dimension. The number of hives and supers shall be limited to two (2) hives per residence and four (4) supers per hive... All hives and supers in which bees are kept shall be located at least twenty-five (25) feet from any dwelling, business, sidewalk, alley or roadway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Little Rock allows hobby beekeeping only on R-1, R-2, and R-3 single-family lots at least 50 by 100 feet, capped at two hives per residence (four supers per hive), with an extra hive allowed per additional 5,000 square feet of lot area. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from any dwelling, business, sidewalk, alley, or roadway, and a 6-foot flyway barrier is required if a hive sits within 50 feet of the property line. Commercial beekeeping is confined to AF Agriculture and Forestry zoning, where hive counts are unlimited. Keepers must also provide a clean water source on-site.
Violations & Fines
Violations draw a fine up to $500 per offense, with each hive over the two-hive residential cap counted as a separate violation, plus $100 per day for continued noncompliance after conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees in any Little Rock neighborhood?
How far must a hive be from my neighbor's house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
Compare Little Rock to another location·View the Arkansas animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.