Los Angeles County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must post a sign
- Anyone with an apiary on premises other than their own residence
- Sign location
- Longer side of hive/super, on the entrance side of the apiary
- Minimum letter height
- 1 inch
- Required sign color
- Black letters on white or contrasting background
- Penalty for violation
- Misdemeanor
Summary
Anyone maintaining a beehive (apiary) on premises other than their own residence in unincorporated Los Angeles County must post a sign identifying the owner's name, address, and phone number on the hive.
Every person maintaining an apiary on premises other than that of his residence shall identify such apiary by affixing a sign thereto showing the name of the owner or person in possession of the apiary, his address, his telephone number, if any, and if there is no telephone, a statement of that fact. [...] Persons designated in Section 10.76.020 shall affix the required sign on the longer side of the hive or longer side of the super, prominently located on the entrance side of the apiary, and shall at all times maintain such sign thereon. Such signs shall be in black letters at least one inch in height on white or other contrasting color. [...] The lettering of signs required by Section 10.76.020 shall be printed or stenciled, or equivalent thereto, in black paint or black ink. [...] Every person violating any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
The sign must be affixed to the longer side of the hive or super, prominently located on the entrance side of the apiary, and must be maintained at all times. Letters must be at least one inch high in black on a white or contrasting background, printed or stenciled in black paint or ink. No sign is required for an apiary kept at the beekeeper's own residence.
Violations & Fines
Every person violating any provision of the apiary chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a sign if my beehives are in my own backyard?
What information must the sign show?
What happens if I keep an off-premises apiary without the required sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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