Bergen County does not regulate beekeeping countywide. New Jersey's Beekeeping Industry Act (N.J.S.A. 4:7-41 et seq.) governs hive registration with the state, while individual municipalities may impose lot-size and setback rules.
All beekeepers in Bergen County must register their colonies with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture under N.J.S.A. 4:7-41. The state mandates inspection access and disease reporting but does not cap hive numbers. Bergen County's 70 municipalities vary widely in local beekeeping rules: Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and Tenafly permit hobby beekeeping with setback requirements, while denser towns like Hackensack and Fort Lee may restrict or require special use permits. Best practice statewide includes maintaining water sources, six-foot flyway barriers near property lines, and gentle bee strains. Bergen County's Cooperative Extension office provides educational guidance through Rutgers.
State registration violations carry fines up to $500. Municipal nuisance citations vary, typically $100 to $1,000 per offense.
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood requires owners and tenants to keep grass and weeds cut on lands abutting public streets, removing overgrowth within three days after written notice.
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood permits backyard chickens and limited fowl by Health Division permit, but coops must meet strict setbacks and roosters or noisy fowl are prohibited.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle beekeeping.
See how Ridgewood's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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