New Bedford, MA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed zoning districts
- Residence A or Residence B only
- Hive setback
- 15-foot radius of unbuilt land around each hive
- Flyway barrier height
- At least 6 feet tall
- Fine
- $75 per violation
- Removal deadline
- 48 hours after violation
Summary
New Bedford restricts residential beehives to Residence A or B zoning districts, requires a 15-foot buffer of unbuilt land around every hive, and mandates a flyway barrier at least six feet tall where the rear yard isn't already fully fenced, backed by a $75 fine per violation.
(b)Requirements. Hives and colonies may only be kept or maintained in the city pursuant to the following:(1)Hives maintained on a residential property may only be located in a property zoned in a Residence A or Residence B district.(2)Hives shall only be maintained in the rear yard of a residential lot and there shall be at least a fifteen (15) foot radius of unbuilt upon land space contained within said residential lot surrounding each hive.(3)On any lot that does not have a fence on all sides of the of the rear yard, hives must be maintained fifteen (15) feet from any property line and the beekeeper must install a flyway barrier that is at least six (6) feet in height and no further than four (4) feet in front of the hive entrance.(c)Restriction and penalties.(1)No person shall keep or maintain a hive or colony of honey bees that is not in compliance with the provisions of [subsections (a) through (c)].(2)Any person violating any of the provisions of [subsection (b) through (c)] shall be required to pay a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and remove the hive or colony and any equipment used in the keeping thereof from the premises within forty-eight (48) hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-5 of the general ordinances sets out New Bedford's beekeeping rules in detail. Hives may only be kept on residential property zoned Residence A or Residence B, and only in the rear yard, with at least a 15-foot radius of unbuilt land surrounding each hive. If the rear yard isn't fully fenced on every side, the beekeeper must keep hives at least 15 feet from any property line and install a flyway barrier, defined as fencing, dense hedging, or a combination of the two, that is at least six feet tall and positioned no more than four feet in front of the hive entrance.
The ordinance defines a 'colony' as the entire honey bee family living together (queen, workers and drones) and a 'hive' as the frame or structure serving as their domicile. Any hive or colony kept out of compliance with these placement, buffer and barrier rules is prohibited outright, not just subject to a warning. New Bedford added this framework by ordinance in July 2017, replacing an earlier 1976 version, reflecting the city's move to formalize backyard beekeeping as urban agriculture grew.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a noncompliant hive or colony triggers a $75 fine and an order to remove the hive, colony and all related equipment from the premises within 48 hours. Each violation is a separate offense, and every day the noncompliant hive remains past the initial 48-hour window counts as an additional separate offense, so fines compound quickly for beekeepers who don't remove an out-of-compliance hive promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Bedford
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