Loveland, CO Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Loveland Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) and the city's land development standards do not contain a dedicated beekeeping chapter setting hive counts, setbacks, or flyway-barrier requirements. The Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association maintains a municipal-codes index covering Front Range cities including Arvada, Brighton, Boulder, Fort Collins, Lafayette, Lakewood, and Longmont — Loveland is included in the index but the entry reads 'Nothing specific to beekeeping.' Residential beekeeping is therefore treated as an accessory use governed by general pet-animal nuisance law under LMC § 6.28.010, which provides that no person may keep animals in a manner that constitutes a nuisance to neighboring properties. Beekeepers must also comply with the Colorado Bee Act (CRS Title 35, Article 25) administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Apiary Program, which historically required apiary registration with the State Apiarist (although the registration program has been modified in recent years). HOAs and covenants may impose additional restrictions on individual properties. Best practice in Front Range cities includes 6-foot flyway barriers along property lines facing neighbors, a fresh water source on-site, and locating hives at least 10-25 feet from property lines. Contact the City of Loveland Community Development Department at (970) 962-2577 to confirm accessory-use treatment before installing hives.