National City, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Chapter 8.34 of the National City Municipal Code (Title 8, Animals) starts from a ban. Section 8.34.020(A) says the keeping of bees is not allowed within the city except as the chapter provides, and it is unlawful to keep any bees or hive within city limits otherwise. The chapter's stated purpose in § 8.34.005 is the safe and orderly keeping of bees to protect public health, safety and welfare.

Where hives are allowed: only on lots with a minimum area of ten thousand square feet within the open space and institutional zones. The property must be dedicated to agricultural or research use, and the hives must be accessory to that primary use. Farms, community gardens, schools, colleges and laboratories are the printed examples. Up to four beehives are permitted on a parcel.

Distances: hives must sit at least twenty-five feet from the property line of the traveled way of any public street or sidewalk closest to the parcel, at least twenty-five feet from any private access easement, at least fifteen feet from any side or rear lot line and at least twenty-five feet from all on-site and neighboring dwellings. When three or four hives are kept, the separation from on-site dwellings, neighboring dwellings and habitable structures grows to no less than one hundred feet. Hives must also sit no less than one hundred feet from the property line of any sensitive area, defined to include schools, playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor sports facilities, daycare centers, senior care facilities, medical facilities and animal boarding facilities.

Other standards: a hive can be no larger than fifteen cubic feet in volume, only docile bees (Apis mellifera honey bees) are permitted, open water must be available near the hives in hot and dry weather, and beekeepers must keep a shovel plus either a fire extinguisher of the two and one-half gallon water-under-pressure type, a five gallon back-pump type or a garden hose connected to water whenever the hive is attended. Registration with the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights, and Measures is required before any beekeeping and before applying for a beekeeping permit under the chapter.