Kanawha County, WV Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- State Registration
- Within 10 days
- State Law
- WV Code §19-13-4
- Renewal
- Annually by June 30
- Rural Land
- Largely unrestricted
- City Lots
- Limits and setbacks
Summary
Beekeeping thrives across Kanawha County's wooded hollows and wildflower slopes. West Virginia law (WV Code §19-13-4) requires every beekeeper to register colonies with the state within ten days of acquiring bees. Charleston and other cities may add hive limits and setbacks.
All persons keeping bees in this state shall apply for a certificate of registration for beekeeping from the commissioner, within ten days of the date that bees are acquired, by notifying the commissioner, in writing, of the number and location of colonies they own or rent, or which they keep for someone else, whether the bees are located on their own property or someone else's property.
Full Breakdown
Kanawha County's Appalachian forests, sourwood, and wildflower meadows make strong bee country, and both hobby and sideline beekeeping are common. West Virginia requires registration: under WV Code §19-13-4, anyone keeping bees must apply for a beekeeping certificate from the Department of Agriculture within ten days of acquiring the colonies, and certificates renew annually by June 30. On residential and city lots, Charleston and neighboring towns may cap hive counts and require setbacks from property lines, a water source, and a flyway barrier that lifts bees above head height. Rural land is largely unrestricted. Gentle stock and water keep neighbors comfortable.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register colonies with the state can bring penalties under the apiary law, and a hive kept against a city's limits or creating a nuisance can draw a local abatement order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my bees?
Can I keep bees on a city lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kanawha County
Compare Kanawha County to another location·View the West Virginia animal ordinances overview
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