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Reno, NV Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Use category
Beekeeping = "Urban Farm" use
Permit needed
Minor conditional use permit
Trigger
Operations lasting beyond 3 years
Accessory structure cap
12 ft tall, 120 sq ft
Enforcing office
City of Reno Administrator

Summary

Reno regulates bees under its Urban Farm use category, which needs a minor conditional use permit once the operation runs past three years.

Urban Farm A minor conditional use permit shall be approved for any urban farming operation intended to be established beyond three years (otherwise temporary use standards shall apply)... f. No more than 12 fowl and no hoofed animals or livestock shall be allowed on site. [Use definition, § 18.09.301: "The growing, raising, keeping, producing, and selling of agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, fruit and vegetable products, including bees and up to 12 fowl."]

Source: Reno Municipal CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Reno's zoning code defines an Urban Farm as growing, raising, and keeping products "including bees and up to 12 fowl." A minor conditional use permit is required for any urban farming operation, bees included, meant to continue beyond three years; shorter setups fall under temporary-use standards instead. Accessory structures for the apiary are capped at 12 feet tall and 120 square feet without a building permit, and no hoofed animals or livestock may share the site.

Violations & Fines

Running an Urban Farm/beekeeping operation past three years without an approved minor conditional use permit, or building oversized accessory structures without a building permit, is a code violation the Administrator can act on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep bees in a Reno backyard?
Yes: bees fall under the city's Urban Farm use category, which is allowed with a minor conditional use permit if kept beyond three years.
Do I need a permit right away to keep bees?
Not necessarily: short-term urban farming, including bees, can proceed under temporary-use standards; the minor conditional use permit applies once it's meant to continue past three years.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Reno

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All Reno rules

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