Beekeeping is legal across Harford County, but Maryland requires every beekeeper to register each colony annually with the Department of Agriculture by January 1 under Agriculture Section 5-503. Any newly acquired colony must be registered within 30 days. No county permit exists.
Keeping honey bees is lawful throughout Harford County and treated as agriculture. The binding statewide rule is registration: Maryland Agriculture Section 5-503 requires a beekeeper to register annually with the Department of Agriculture each colony maintained, submitting a form by January 1 stating the number of colonies and each location, and to register any newly acquired colony within 30 days. The State Apiary Inspection Program, not the county, inspects hives for disease. County zoning may set hive-placement setbacks in denser areas, while the rural north around Jarrettsville imposes little. Qualifying commercial apiaries gain Maryland right-to-farm protection.
Failing to register colonies with the Maryland Department of Agriculture violates Agriculture Section 5-503 and is enforced by the State Apiary Inspection Program. County zoning can enforce hive-placement setbacks.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Harford County, MD
No Harford County or Maryland law limits holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays. A homeowner can decorate without a county permit. The only real limit...
Harford County, MD
A garage-sale sign on your own lawn is fine in Harford County under the county's temporary-sign rules. But a sign staked in a state highway right-of-way, on ...
Harford County, MD
Political signs are fine on your own lawn in Harford County, subject to neutral limits. County zoning caps a temporary sign at 32 square feet and 6 feet high...
Harford County, MD
Harford County requires no general rental license, but Maryland does require registration. Every owner of a pre-1978 rental must register each unit with the ...
Harford County, MD
Maryland requires no just cause to end a tenancy, and Harford County has added none. A landlord evicts only through District Court, never self-help, but may ...
Harford County, MD
Harford County has no rent control. Maryland sets no statewide cap and does not preempt local rent stabilization, so a county or town may adopt one; Harford ...
See how Harford County's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.