Port St. Lucie, FL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Where permitted
- General Use (GU) zoning district
- Utility district
- Accessory use, 100 compact acres minimum
- Residential districts
- Bee keeping not listed as permitted
- Zoning rule
- Unlisted uses expressly prohibited (Sec. 158.041)
- City parks
- Bee apiary needs a lease
Summary
Port St. Lucie's code treats bee keeping as a zoning use, not an animal-control matter. It is listed as a permitted use only in the General Use district, and Section 158.041 prohibits uses a district does not list.
honeybees, honeybee products, or beekeeping equipment if it is determined that an unwanted race of honeybees exists, or honeybee pests exist on honeybees, honeybee products, or beekeeping equipment, or that the condition of the apiary inhibits a thorough and efficient inspection by the department. (n) Conduct, supervise, or cause the fumigation, destruction, or treatment of honeybees, including unwanted races of honeybees, honeybee products, and used beekeeping equipment or other articles infested or infected by honeybee pests or unwanted races of honeybees or so exposed to infection or infestation that it is reasonably believed that infection or infestation could exist.
Full Breakdown
Bee keeping appears in the Zoning Code, not the animal chapter. Section 158.060(B)(1) lists it among the permitted principal uses in the General Use (GU) district, alongside crop raising, poultry and livestock production and plant nurseries. Section 158.137(D)(1) allows it as an accessory use in the Utility district on lots or parcels of at least one hundred compact acres. It is not listed in the permitted uses for the estate or single-family residential districts, and Section 158.041 states that a use not specifically listed as permitted is expressly prohibited. In city parks, Section 96.68(b) bars letting a bee apiary run at large without leasing from the director.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations are punished under Section 158.999 as set out in Section 10.99: $50.00 for a first offense and $200.00 for a second if uncontested, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees at my house in Port St. Lucie?
Does the city code set hive setbacks or colony limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port St. Lucie
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Port St. Lucie to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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