Martin County, FL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Code of Ordinances §§ 67.106-67.108
- Regular beekeeping
- not restricted by this ordinance
- Banned
- Africanized honey bees and their nests
- Inspection
- consent or search warrant under F.S. ch. 933
- Billed to owner
- abatement cost plus administrative fee
- Relief available
- extension or fee waiver, Sec. 67.107.G-.H
Summary
Martin County does not license or restrict ordinary backyard beekeeping by zoning, but Sec. 67.106 makes it unlawful to keep Africanized honey bees or their nests on any property. The County can inspect, and if consent is refused can get a search warrant, to remove a confirmed Africanized colony and bill the owner for the cost.
No person shall allow, have, create, keep, maintain, cause or permit Africanized honey bees or Africanized honey bee nests on their property. ... If the County has reason to believe that property contains arthropods of public health importance or Africanized honey bees, and consent is not received from the owner or occupant of the property, the County may apply for a search warrant pursuant to F.S. ch. 933, Search and Inspection Warrants, from a court of competent jurisdiction, to enter upon any lot, tract, parcel of land, improved or unimproved, lake, or body of water, for the purpose of investigation, inspection and examination of the same, and to remove therefrom, or treat ... areas containing Africanized honey bees.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 | Land Development Regulations: Supplement 62).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 67 (Environmental Control), Article 4, Mosquito, Arthropods of Public Health Importance and Africanized Honey Bee Control, is the only County ordinance in the general code that singles out bees. Sec. 106 flatly bars anyone from allowing, having, creating, keeping, maintaining, causing or permitting Africanized honey bees, the aggressive strain known as 'killer bees,' or their nests on their property; it does not touch ordinary European honey bee colonies kept for pollination or honey production, which the Code leaves unregulated. Sec. ch. 933 to do the same.
If an inspection confirms a violation, Sec. F let the County bill the property owner for both the administrative cost of the investigation, notices and any search warrant, and the actual abatement cost, though Sec. H let the County grant a compliance extension or waive the administrative fee. Sec. 108 sets those charges: an abatement (clearance) cost equal to the County's actual removal expense, plus an administrative fee the Board of County Commissioners sets by resolution to cover investigation, inspection, notice and recording costs.
Violations & Fines
Keeping or permitting an Africanized honey bee colony after notice is a Sec. 67.106 violation. The County can abate the nest itself, either with the owner's consent or under a search-warrant inspection, and then bill the owner the actual abatement cost under Sec. 67.108.A plus an administrative fee under Sec. 67.108.B, unless the Board waives it under Sec. 67.107.H; those costs attach to the property and are collectible the same as other County code-enforcement charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to keep honeybee hives in a Martin County backyard?
Can Martin County inspect my property for Africanized bees without my permission?
Who pays to remove a confirmed Africanized bee colony?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Martin County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Martin County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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