Redding, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Colony limit
- 3 colonies on a 6,000+ sq ft lot
- Hive height
- Max 6 feet including stand or rack
- Registration
- Shasta County Ag Commissioner, Food & Ag Code § 29040
- Barrier required
- Min. 6-foot flight dispersion barrier
- Commercial setback
- 100 ft from streets, 300 ft from homes
Summary
Redding lets residents keep up to three bee colonies at home if the lot has at least 6,000 square feet, but the keeper must first get a zoning clearance from the Development Services Director and sign an affidavit agreeing to meet hive height, registration, and barrier standards under Chapter 7.08.
No person shall keep, have, maintain or protect upon his or her premises, or any premises or lot within the city, any apiary or colony, hive, cluster, or swarm of stinging insects other than bees pursuant to the following provisions: A.Any person keeping bees for noncommercial purposes shall obtain a zoning clearance from the development services director and provide an affidavit certifying that the owner understands and agrees to comply with the following requirements:1.Any owner/occupant of a lot within any zoning district containing at least six thousand square feet of lot area and a single-family dwelling may keep up to three colonies of bees. Each colony shall be housed within a hive.2.Hives shall be comprised of a combination of brood chamber and supers which do not exceed six feet in height above ground level, including any stand or rack upon which the hives are placed.3.Hives shall be registered with the Shasta County Agricultural Commissioner's Office pursuant to California Food and Agricultural Code § 29040.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48).
Full Breakdown
010, noncommercial beekeepers must obtain a zoning clearance and file an affidavit before keeping bees. A lot with a single-family dwelling and at least six thousand square feet may hold up to three colonies, each in its own hive. Hives, counting brood chambers, supers, and any stand or rack, may not exceed six feet in height. Every hive must be registered with the Shasta County Agricultural Commissioner's Office under California Food and Agricultural Code § 29040, and the property must maintain a minimum six-foot flight dispersion barrier, such as a solid fence, wall, or hedge, kept in good repair, plus a dedicated water source for the colonies.
Knowingly keeping Africanized bees is banned outright for every beekeeper. 14 on smaller residential lots. Commercial hives must sit at least one hundred feet from public streets and three hundred feet from any off-site residence unless a use permit allows a reduced setback, and commercial apiaries must be a mile from any registered nucleus apiary unless the same person owns both or gets written permission. 11.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees without the required zoning clearance and affidavit, exceeding the three-colony residential limit, building hives over six feet tall, skipping registration with the Shasta County Agricultural Commissioner, or knowingly keeping Africanized bees all violate Chapter 7.08. The city can require beekeeping to stop immediately upon notice, cite and fine the keeper under Chapters 1.12 through 1.14, and revoke any related use permit under Chapter 18.11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Redding?
How many beehives can I keep at my house?
Are Africanized bees allowed in Redding?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redding
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