Neenah, WI Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Hive density limit
- 1 per 5,000 sq ft, max 6
- Setback from lot line
- 10 feet minimum
- Setback from dwelling
- 25 feet minimum
- Registration required first
- Community Development Dept.
- Governing section
- Neenah Municipal Code § 3-42
Summary
Neenah allows small-scale hobby beekeeping on City lots, but only after registering with Community Development, and every hive must sit at least ten feet from a property line and 25 feet from a neighbor's house.
(1)Number of hives. One hive or colony per 5,000 square foot of lot size to a maximum of six hives allowed on any lot within the City.(2)Location. Hives are allowed only within side or rear yards. In all cases, a minimum setback of ten feet must be maintained between any property line and the closest point of any hives. Hives shall also be located at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling. Hives located within 25 feet of a property line must be shielded with a minimum six-foot height flyway barrier installed within ten feet of the hive. The flyway barrier may consist of a solid wall, fence, dense vegetation, or combination thereof that extends ten feet beyond the outer edges of the hives in each direction so that all bees are forced to fly over the material to reach the colony.(3)Water supply. Every beekeeper shall ensure that a convenient and constant supply of water is provided near the hives for as long as colonies remain active outside of the hives.(4)Best practices. The Department shall develop suggested best practices for operation of any small-scale beekeeping operation in the City to be incorporated as part of the registration required under Section 3-41 of this Code.(5)Africanized honeybees avoidance practices. In any instance where a colony is found to exhibit aggressive behavior, it shall be the duty of the beekeeper to immediately destroy or re-queen the hive with certified European stock. (Ord. No. 2017-05B, § 2, 4-5-2017)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
City Code Article IV (§§ 3-40 to 3-43) lets property owners or tenants keep bees after registering the apiary with the Department of Community Development and Assessment, notifying every abutting neighbor first, and passing a City inspection. Density is capped at one hive per 5,000 square feet of lot, up to six hives per lot; hives must stand in a side or rear yard, at least ten feet from any property line and 25 feet from a neighboring dwelling, and a hive within 25 feet of a line needs a six-foot flyway barrier. Aggressive colonies must be destroyed or re-queened.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees without registering with Community Development, exceeding the one-hive-per-5,000-square-feet/six-hive cap, or placing a hive closer than ten feet to a property line violates Article IV; the Department can revoke a registration after three or more violations in six months, or on appeal for a documented neighbor anaphylaxis condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Neenah?
How close to my property line can I place a hive?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Neenah
Compare Neenah to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.