Beekeeping is permitted in Richmond residential zones with setbacks and hive limits. Hives must be kept at least 5 feet from property lines, flight paths directed away from neighbors (using 6-ft barriers or elevated placement), and a water source provided on-site. Registration with the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner is required annually.
Richmond allows backyard beekeeping as part of its urban agriculture provisions, subject to reasonable standards. Under RMC zoning and nuisance provisions, hives must be set back at least 5 feet from property lines and positioned so that bee flight paths do not cross neighboring yards at low altitude; this is typically achieved by placing hives facing the beekeeper's own yard or installing a 6-foot flyway barrier (fence, hedge, or building wall) within 10 feet of the hive entrance. Beekeepers must maintain a constant water source on their own property to prevent bees from watering at neighbors' pools or birdbaths. California Food & Agricultural Code §29040 requires all apiaries with one or more colonies to be registered annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner (Contra Costa County at 2366-A Stanwell Cir, Concord). Hive limits typically scale with lot size: 2 hives on lots under 5,000 sq ft, up to 4 hives on larger parcels. Africanized or aggressive colonies must be re-queened or removed.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle beekeeping.
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