Nicholasville, KY Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Sec. 5-4 of the Nicholasville code governs the keeping of bees. It dates to Ord. No. 4-B-80, 4-22-80 and was rewritten by Ord. No. 086-2022, 7-11-22. Subsection (a) sets where bees are allowed: the keeping of bees is permitted on single-family lots and Jessamine County Schools and city owned properties, and is prohibited at all other locations. A resident of any other kind of lot has no path under this section.

Subsection (b) puts a water duty on each beekeeper: a convenient source of water must be available within ten (10) feet of each colony at all times that the colonies remain active outside the hive. Subsection (c) sets the standard setback: bee hives must be set back a minimum of twenty (20) feet from all property lines, measured from the nearest point of the hive to the property line.

Subsection (d) offers an exception. The minimum hive setback can be reduced to ten (10) feet from a property line when a six (6)-foot high flyway barrier is installed between the hive and the property line. The barrier can be a wall or solid fence and must continue parallel to the lot line for ten (10) feet in either direction from the hive, or the beekeeper can contain the hive or hives in an enclosure at least six (6) feet high.

Subsection (e) requires registration. Any honey bee colony must be registered with the city clerk of the City of Nicholasville. The registration gives the name of the property owner, the address where the bees are kept, a phone number where the owner can be contacted, and the number of colonies or hives being maintained. Registration is annual for each year when the hives are being kept, and there is no registration fee.