Beekeeping in Florida is regulated primarily under F.S. §586 and state agricultural rules administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). North Port has not adopted a local beekeeping ordinance that conflicts with state law; F.S. §586.10 broadly preempts local regulation that restricts beekeeping for residents.
F.S. §586.10, enacted by HB 707 (2016), preempts local regulation of beekeeping when conducted in accordance with FDACS Best Management Requirements. Beekeepers must register hives with FDACS annually (free), and Africanized colonies must be removed by certified beekeepers. North Port's ULDC Sec. 53-122(C) prohibits farm animals and livestock in RSF districts, but state preemption protects beekeeping from being swept into that prohibition. Practical guidance: keep colonies in side or rear yards, away from property lines and high-traffic areas, and follow FDACS BMRs on water sources and forage.
Failure to register hives is a violation of F.S. §586 enforced by FDACS, with administrative fines per hive. Africanized swarm responses require certified removal; abandoning a hive can trigger nuisance enforcement under Ch. 42.
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