Palmdale, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max density
- 1 hive per 4,000 sq ft of lot area
- Minimum setback
- 20 feet from any property line
- Allowed yard
- Rear yard only; ER/LDR also allow side yard
- Flyway barrier height
- Minimum 6 feet, solid
- Barrier extension
- 5 feet beyond hive each direction
Summary
Palmdale allows backyard beehives but caps density at one hive per 4,000 square feet of lot area and forces every hive into the rear yard, 20 feet from any property line, behind a six-foot flyway barrier that redirects bee flight upward.
Location. Beehives shall only be located in rear yards and shall be placed a minimum of 20 feet from any property line, except that in the ER and LDR zones beehives also may be placed in the interior side yards. In all zones, the entrance to the beehive shall face away from the property line closest to the hive. ... A flyway barrier shall be established and maintained so that all bees are forced to fly at an elevation of at least six feet above ground level in the vicinity of the beehive.
Full Breakdown
PMC § 17.89.030(A)(7) adds bees to the list of animals allowed on agricultural and residentially designated property, and Table 17.89.030-1 caps density at a maximum of one hive for every 4,000 square feet of lot area. Subsection (D), Standards for Bee Keeping, controls placement: hives must sit only in rear yards, a minimum of 20 feet from any property line, except that ER and LDR zone lots may also place hives in interior side yards; the hive entrance must face away from the nearest property line.
Where a hive sits closer than the setback would otherwise clear, keepers must install a flyway barrier, a fence, wall, or natural barrier, that is at least six feet tall, solid enough that bees cannot fly through it, placed parallel to the property line, and extending at least five feet beyond the beehive in each direction; any wall or fence used as a barrier must also comply with PMC § 17.86.040 (Walls and fences). Keepers must maintain a year-round water source near the hive so bees are not drawn to neighbors' pools, pet bowls, or birdbaths.
If a colony becomes unusually defensive or prone to swarming, § 17.89.030(D)(4) requires the keeper to promptly re-queen it with a gentle, non-swarming stock queen and to be able to produce a receipt from a queen breeder proving the source. These standards apply on top of the general animal-keeping limitations in § 17.89.030(B) and (C), including the setback rules for animal enclosures generally.
Violations & Fines
A hive that violates the setback, barrier, or density limits is treated as an animal-keeping violation under Chapter 17.89, enforceable by the City's code enforcement division through citation and abatement under Title 1 of the Palmdale Municipal Code. A colony that turns defensive without prompt re-queening under § 17.89.030(D)(4) can be cited as a standards violation independent of any nuisance or dangerous-animal complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palmdale
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