Georgia state law (O.C.G.A. §2-14-40 et seq.) prohibits cities from banning honeybee hives outright. Roswell may impose zoning-based setback and minimum-lot-size standards but does not ban hives. Hive owners should follow standard beekeeper-best-practice setbacks of 10+ feet from property lines and screened flight paths.
Under the Georgia Bee Law (O.C.G.A. §2-14-40), municipalities cannot adopt or maintain ordinances that prohibit, impede, or restrict the establishment or maintenance of honeybees in hives - but state law preserves the city's general zoning authority. In practice that means Roswell residents can keep bees as a default, subject to (1) the §8.8.3 nuisance code (no swarming/odor disturbance), (2) UDC residential-use compatibility, and (3) industry-standard best practices like keeping hives at least 10 feet from property lines and using flyway barriers on small lots. Fulton County zoning guidance frequently used by Roswell suggests no more than 2 colonies per 10,000 sq ft on small lots. Beekeepers must register with the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Apiary Program.
A swarming or aggressive hive that creates a nuisance is enforceable under §8.8.3 with civil penalties. Failure to register with the state apiary program is a state-level violation. Roswell cannot, under Georgia state preemption, ban hives outright.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Roswell, GA
Industrial property in Roswell is held to higher decibel caps than residential under §8.8.3, reflecting industrial-district ambient levels. Even so, noise cr...
Roswell, GA
Outdoor amplified music at restaurants, breweries, and event venues must comply with the §8.8.3 property-line decibel caps. Roswell explicitly prohibits ampl...
Roswell, GA
Roswell §8.8.3 sets numerical decibel caps that vary by receiving land use. Residential property limits are 70 dBA day / 60 dBA night; commercial and industr...
Roswell, GA
Roswell does not restrict the number of vehicles parked on a residential driveway, but vehicles must be operable and currently registered. Parking on unpaved...
Roswell, GA
Roswell does not require neighbor consent for a property-line fence as long as the fence is entirely on the owner's property. Georgia state law (O.C.G.A. §44...
Roswell, GA
Roswell's UDC §10.2.10 allows wood, vinyl, metal, masonry, and decorative materials for screening walls and fences. Chain-link fencing in front yards is rest...
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