Queen Creek, AZ Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Beekeeping is regulated under Town Code Article 6-3, 'Bees and Bee Keeping.' Section 6-3-2 provides that, prior to keeping any hive, colony or apiary within town limits, a person must obtain a beekeeping license; the annual fee is $10 per location, and if the applicant is not the property owner, the application requires the owner's consent. Section 6-3-3 sets management requirements: each hive must be marked with the license number, and 'a permanent and adequate water supply must be available on the property at all times within thirty feet of the hive, colony or apiary.' Setbacks depend on zoning. In R-1-35 residential zones, hives must be set back 30 feet from all property lines; in larger residential or commercial zones, the 30-foot setback applies only relative to adjacent R-1-35 properties. Section 6-3-6 sets penalties: a first offense is a petty offense, and subsequent convictions within a two-year period are treated as class 1 misdemeanors. These provisions help reduce nuisance and water-source conflicts in Queen Creek's mix of residential and rural-style lots.