Rockville, MD Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Beekeeping is expressly permitted in Rockville under Montgomery County zoning regulations, which classify beekeeping as part of farming (permitted in agricultural and rural zones) and urban farming (permitted with limitations in all other zones). There are no local zoning restrictions on the number of hives or placement of apiaries in Rockville beyond standard property boundary setbacks. Maryland Agriculture Article 5-501 requires all beekeepers to register their apiaries and honeybee colonies with the Maryland Department of Agriculture within 30 days of first obtaining a colony, and then annually each year. Registration is free. The MDA Apiary Inspection program visits approximately two-thirds of Maryland apiaries each year to examine colonies for diseases and pests. Maryland currently has over 2,300 registered beekeepers managing roughly 18,700 colonies statewide. The Montgomery County Beekeepers Association is an active local resource for new beekeepers. While no permit is required from Rockville, beekeepers should maintain hives responsibly with adequate water sources and flight path management to minimize neighbor concerns. Best practices include orienting hive entrances away from neighboring properties and maintaining a barrier or hedge to elevate bee flight paths.