San Diego County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

The County's beekeeping ordinance is Chapter 9 of Division 2 of Title 6 (Ordinance No. 10927), which implements and supplements California Food and Agricultural Code section 29000 et seq. Beekeepers in all jurisdictions must register the number of colonies and each apiary location with the County Agricultural Commissioner by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of acquiring an apiary (section 62.903). The siting rules (sections 62.904-62.910) apply specifically to apiaries in the unincorporated area and scale by 'tier': Tier A is 1-2 colonies (up to 5 temporarily to prevent swarming), Tier B is 3-20 colonies, and Tier C is more than 20 colonies. Required distances from neighboring dwellings are 35 feet for Tier A, 100 feet for Tier B, and 300 feet for Tier C (section 62.908). Setbacks from property lines are 25 feet (Tier A) and 50 feet (Tier B), and from roads 25, 50, and 100 feet for Tiers A, B, and C (sections 62.907, 62.909). Sensitive sites such as schools, daycares, and senior facilities require 150 to 450 feet depending on tier and colony count (section 62.910). Other requirements include hives with movable frames, name-and-phone identification signs at least one inch high, monthly colony inspections with swarm prevention, an accessible fresh-water supply, a flyover barrier of at least six feet for residential Tier A/B apiaries within 300 feet of a dwelling, fire breaks, and fire-fighting supplies. The Commissioner may allow closer placement on open-space-adjacent property if public health and safety are protected.