Miami Gardens, FL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Legal Status
- Permitted (state preemption)
- Registration
- Required with FL Dept. of Agriculture
- Local Ban
- Prohibited by state law
- Governing Law
- FL Statutes Ch. 586
- Best Practices
- Water source, gentle stock, setbacks
Summary
Beekeeping in Miami Gardens is governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 586 (Apiary Inspection) and Miami-Dade County regulations. Florida law preempts local governments from prohibiting beekeeping on residential property but allows reasonable regulations on hive placement and management. Registration with the Florida Department of Agriculture is required.
586.055 Location of apiaries. An apiary may be located on land classified as agricultural under s. 193.461 or on land that is integral to a beekeeping operation. [...] 586.10 Powers and duties of department; preemption of local government ordinances. (1) The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof. (2) The department shall: (a) Administer and enforce this chapter. (b) Adopt rules necessary to enforce this chapter, rules relating to standard grades for honey and other honeybee products, and, after consultation with local governments and other affected stakeholders, rules to administer this section. [...] 586.045 Certificates of registration and inspection. (1) Each beekeeper having honeybee colonies within the state shall apply to the department, on forms supplied by the department, for certificates of inspection and registration, and for annual renewal on the anniversary date of the registration. [...] (3) Neither the registration fee nor the annual renewal fee shall exceed $100.
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute 586.045 preempts local governments from prohibiting beekeeping on residential properties. Beekeepers must register their apiaries with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and comply with state inspection requirements. Hives must be managed according to best management practices including providing adequate water sources, maintaining gentle bee stocks, and positioning hives to minimize impacts on neighbors. Miami-Dade County may impose reasonable regulations on hive placement, setbacks, and the number of colonies, but cannot ban beekeeping outright. The Florida Beekeepers Registration program requires annual renewal.
Violations & Fines
Unregistered apiaries are subject to state enforcement. Poorly managed hives that create public nuisance conditions may be addressed through the city's nuisance abatement process under Chapter 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is beekeeping legal in Miami Gardens?
Do I need to register my beehives?
How many hives can I have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami Gardens
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle beekeeping.