Rockdale County, GA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Section 106-1 defines an apiary as a place where one or more managed honeybee colonies or hives are kept in structures the beekeeper intentionally provides for honeybee housing, and it sets three colony-count classes: Class A allows up to 6 colonies per parcel, Class B allows 7 to 14, and Class C allows 15 or more. The supplemental use standards at § 218-13(e2), which apply to apiaries of all classes, require that a property have a minimum of 10,000 square feet to host an apiary at all, with two additional hives allowed for every additional 5,000 square feet beyond that; a beekeeper may also keep additional nucleus colonies alongside standard hives for swarm prevention and colony management without those counting against the density limit.

Hives themselves must sit in the rear of the property, behind any front yard line, and at least 20 feet from any side or rear property line. Apiaries must also include a reasonably sized water source, such as a fountain or existing water feature, within 60 feet of the hives, so bees are not drawn to neighboring pools or spigots. The permitted-use table at § 218-1 lists Apiary Class A and B, and Apiary Class C separately, as permitted uses by right in the A-R, R-1 and R-2 districts, though both classes require a special use permit in the CRS, CSD, MRU, RM and MxD districts and CSO.