Orange County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

California treats hive registration as a statewide requirement, not a local option. Food & Agricultural Code section 29040 requires every person who owns or possesses an apiary located in California to register the number of colonies and the location of each apiary with the County Agricultural Commissioner — in Orange County, the OC Agricultural Commissioner — by January 1 each year and within 30 days of bringing bees into the county. Registration applies regardless of whether the bees are kept for honey, pollination, or as a hobby, and is now handled through California's statewide BeeWhere system. Many counties waive the registration fee for small hobbyists while still requiring the form be filed. Beyond registration, where hives may be placed on a property is shaped by the County Zoning Code's animal-keeping provisions, including setback distances from neighboring dwellings and property lines, and by general nuisance rules. Orange County does not publish a dedicated countywide hive-count ordinance through OC Animal Care; the Codified Ordinances Title 4 focuses on dogs, cats, and other vertebrate animals rather than bees. Beekeepers should confirm current registration procedures and any fee with the OC Agricultural Commissioner, and verify hive setbacks with OC Planning.