Minneapolis, MN Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- MACC
- Neighbor notice
- required before approval
- Half-acre lot limit
- 2 colonies
- One-acre lot limit
- 8 colonies
- Permit expires
- January 31 yearly
Summary
Keeping honeybees anywhere in Minneapolis requires an MACC permit, neighbor notification, and compliance with colony limits tied to lot size, from two colonies on a half-acre lot up to eight on a full acre.
No person shall keep, maintain, or allow to be kept any hive or other facility for the housing of honeybees on or in any property in the City of Minneapolis without a permit. ... No person is permitted to keep more than the following numbers of colonies on any lot within the city, based upon the size or configuration of the apiary lot: a. One-half (½) acre or smaller lot: Two (2) colonies; b. Larger than one-half (½) acre but smaller than three-quarter (¾) acre lot: Four (4) colonies
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
MACC issues the annual beekeeping permit only after the applicant completes required education and notifies every immediately adjacent property owner (landlords must handle notice for renter applicants). Hives need removable frames, a water source, sealed storage for old comb, and a latching fence around the apiary unless the hives sit on an inaccessible rooftop. Colony counts are capped by lot size, and any hive kept within 25 feet of a property line needs a 6-foot flyway barrier so bees fly up and over rather than through neighboring yards. Permits run through January 31 each year; there's no renewal fee, but skipping the renewal itself is a violation.
Violations & Fines
MACC can deny, suspend, or revoke a permit for violating any condition or if the hives become a public nuisance, subject to an appeal hearing; failing to renew annually is itself a violation of the section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Minneapolis?
How many hives can I keep on a typical city lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle beekeeping.