Nashua, NH Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Beekeeping in Nashua is regulated lightly compared to many other New England cities, because the City has not adopted a dedicated apiary ordinance and the State of New Hampshire does not require routine registration of small backyard hives. (1) CITY CODE - NRO Chapter 93 (Animals) does not contain a beekeeping section. The Nashua Land Use Code (NRO Chapter 190) does not list beehives or apiaries as a separately regulated accessory use, nor does it impose hive-specific property-line setbacks. Beekeeping is treated as a generally permitted accessory residential activity subject to the broader animal-keeping and nuisance framework. (2) ANIMAL-STRUCTURE SETBACK - NRO § 93-3 provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to keep and house any animal in any structure built or located within 45 FEET of any building occupied by human beings in the City except upon special permission from the Health Officer. The 45-foot rule arguably applies to substantial bee yards (multiple hives, beekeeper houses, extraction sheds) but is rarely enforced against small backyard hives unless a complaint is filed. (3) NUISANCE BACKSTOP - NRO Ch. 93's general sanitation requirement and the City's general nuisance framework allow Animal Control or Code Enforcement to address bee-related nuisances (aggressive colonies, swarms in residential areas, foragers using neighbor swimming pools as water sources) on a case-by-case basis. (4) NH STATE FRAMEWORK - New Hampshire's apiary law is RSA Chapter 429 (Bee Industry Regulation), administered by the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, Division of Plant Industry. RSA 429:5 provides for inspection of apiaries for foulbrood and other contagious bee diseases. RSA 429:8 authorizes the State Apiarist to order treatment, quarantine, or destruction of diseased colonies. (5) REGISTRATION - unlike states such as Maine or Washington, New Hampshire does NOT impose mandatory registration on every hobbyist beekeeper. The NH Department of Agriculture maintains a VOLUNTARY apiary registration program (registering commercial apiaries and any hobbyist who wishes to participate in inspection, pesticide-notification, or disease-monitoring programs). Voluntary registration is strongly recommended because it enables the State Apiarist to notify the keeper of nearby pesticide applications and disease outbreaks and to provide an inspection of record. (6) WILD-BEE / NATIVE-POLLINATOR PROTECTIONS - native pollinator habitat is encouraged but not regulated; honey-bee colonies are not protected wildlife. (7) NH BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION - the NH Beekeepers Association and its Hillsborough County chapter offer apprentice-level beekeeping courses, mentorship, and access to the State Apiarist's inspection program. (8) BEST PRACTICES - even though Nashua does not impose hive-specific setbacks, urban best-practice setbacks include locating hives at least 10-20 feet from neighbor property lines and 25 feet from neighbor dwellings, providing a 6-foot 'flyway barrier' (fence or hedge) where setbacks are tight to force foragers to gain altitude, providing a dedicated water source at the apiary to keep bees out of neighbor pools, and requeening any colony that exhibits defensive aggressiveness. AGGRESSIVE OR ABANDONED COLONIES - the City may treat a chronically aggressive or abandoned colony as a nuisance under NRO Ch. 93. (9) HOA RESTRICTIONS - many Nashua HOAs and condominium associations independently restrict or prohibit beekeeping; check governing documents.