Riverside County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

California Food & Agricultural Code §29040 requires every person who owns or operates one or more beehives to register annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner; Riverside County's ag commissioner enforces this. Riverside County Ordinance 348 allows apiaries as a permitted use in agricultural zones (A-1, A-2, A-P) and on larger rural residential parcels, subject to setbacks typically 150 feet from dwellings not owned by the beekeeper and from public roads. On standard residential parcels (R-1, R-2), hobby beekeeping is generally allowed in very limited numbers (often 1-2 hives) provided hives are set back from property lines, water is provided on-site to keep bees from foraging at neighbors' pools, and flight paths are directed by fencing or hedges at least 6 feet high. African honey bees are present throughout Riverside County; requeening with gentle European stock is strongly encouraged by the Ag Commissioner to reduce aggression complaints. Commercial apiaries moving bees for pollination (almonds, stone fruit, Coachella Valley dates) must post identifying information on hives and comply with all state registration and inspection rules. Neighbor complaints are handled first through Animal Services and the Ag Commissioner.