Nampa, ID Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Hive limit
- 2 hives per 10,000 sq ft lot
- Setback
- 25 ft from property lines
- Setback waiver
- 6-ft solid barrier bees can't cross
- Zones allowed
- AG, RA, RS, IL, IH only
- Hive orientation
- Can't face neighbor patios or doors
Summary
Nampa allows beehives only in the AG, RA, RS, IL and IH zones, capping hive counts by lot size and requiring a 25-foot setback from property lines unless a six-foot solid barrier separates the apiary from neighbors.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep bees or maintain an apiary in the city except under the following conditions: A. Conditions. 1. Quantity allowed. No more than two hives to every parcel or lot of land under 10,000 square feet or fraction thereof...; 2. Hive(s) setback. No hive shall be kept or maintained within 25 feet of any property line of the lot or parcel upon which it is situated, except where: a. There is a solid barrier through which bees cannot fly, at least six feet in height, separating the beehives from adjoining properties;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Nampa City Code § 10-21-4 makes it unlawful to keep bees or maintain an apiary in the city except under listed conditions. Hive counts are capped at two per lot under 10,000 square feet, with one additional hive allowed for each further 10,000 square feet. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from any property line unless a solid barrier bees cannot fly through, at least six feet tall, separates the hives from adjoining properties. Hive entrances cannot be oriented toward patios, decks, balconies or entrances on neighboring lots, and apiaries are a permitted land use only in the AG, RA, RS, IL and IH zoning districts, not in the city's other residential zones such as RD, RML or RMH.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees without meeting the quantity, setback, orientation and zoning conditions is unlawful under Title 10; enforcement may be handled by planning and zoning code enforcement or another agency the director delegates the task to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees in a standard Nampa residential zone?
How many hives can a residential lot have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nampa
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