Ventura County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Backyard beekeeping, hobbyist hives accessory to a single-family home, is prohibited on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet, and even on qualifying lots it's capped at four beehives. A sliding scale ties hive count to lot size and setback: two hives need a 10,000 sq ft lot, three hives need 20,000 sq ft, and four hives need a full acre, each with escalating setbacks from property lines and neighboring dwellings. Hive entrances must face away from lot lines, and a 6-to-7-foot 'flyaway barrier' is required unless hives sit at least 100 feet from any off-site home. Beekeeping is also banned outright in mobile home/RV parks, commercial and industrial zones, and the R2, RHD and R/MU zones. Applies only to the unincorporated area.