Mansfield, TX Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Mansfield does not prohibit backyard beekeeping. Hobby beekeepers operate primarily under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 131, which places regulatory authority in the Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) administered by Texas A&M. Small hobbyists with fewer than six colonies are not required to register with TAIS; anyone moving bees into Texas must obtain a 200 dollar permit and a health certificate, and commercial operations registering with TAIS receive annual inspections and eligibility to sell or ship hives. Chapter 14 of the Mansfield City Code and the general nuisance provisions of Chapter 74 still apply to beekeeping as with any other use; hives must be located so they do not create a nuisance to neighboring properties. Best practices followed by the North Central Texas Beekeepers Association and recommended by TAIS include a minimum 10 to 25 foot setback from property lines, flight-path barriers such as fences or hedges at least 6 feet tall to force bees upward, a fresh water source on-site so bees do not visit neighboring pools, and requeening any hive that shows defensive Africanized traits. Africanized Honey Bee (AHB) activity has been confirmed in most North Texas counties, which is an additional reason to source package bees or nucs from certified suppliers. HOA covenants in Mansfield master-planned subdivisions occasionally restrict or ban hives and are enforceable as private contract law.