Raleigh, NC Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Raleigh permits beekeeping as an accessory use in most residential zoning districts under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and the practice is encouraged as part of the city's pollinator-friendly initiatives. Hive placement generally must meet setback requirements from property lines (commonly 10 to 15 feet, with a 6-foot flyway barrier such as a fence, hedge, or wall between the hive and any adjoining property or walkway). The flyway barrier directs bees up and over human activity zones. Water must be provided on the beekeeper's property to prevent bees from congregating at neighbors' pools or pet bowls. Under North Carolina General Statute §106-132.1, all beekeepers with hives must register annually with the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS), and hives may be inspected for diseases such as American foulbrood. Best management practices published by the NC State Beekeepers Association and the NCSU Apiculture Program (for example, two hives per quarter-acre lot guideline, with scaling for larger lots) are recommended. Colonies that become unusually aggressive must be requeened or removed. Commercial apiaries and honey production for sale may trigger additional zoning and NCDA rules.