Rowlett, TX Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 6-108(f), Rowlett Animal Code
- Small lot cap
- 2 colonies on 0.5 acre or less
- Unlimited exception
- 100-ft setback from all property lines
- Hive marking required
- Owner name, address, phone on hive
Summary
Rowlett limits residential beekeepers to two hives on a half-acre lot or smaller and four on up to one acre, but lifts the cap entirely if hives sit 100 feet from every property line.
It shall be unlawful to keep more than the following number of colonies on any lot, in an area zoned residential within the city, based upon the size of the lot which the apiary is situated:(1)One-half acres or less of lot size: two colonies,(2)Larger than one-half but less than one acre of lot size: four colonies,(3)Regardless of lot size, where all hives are situated at least 100 feet in any direction from all property lines of the lot on which the apiary is situated, there shall be no limit to the number of colonies.(g)Marking hives. The name, address, and telephone numbers of the owner or beekeeper shall be painted, or otherwise clearly marked upon the structure of each hive.(h)Compliance. The animal services manager, upon determination that any colony situated within the city is not being kept in compliance with this section, may order the bees removed from the city or destroyed. (Ord. No. 027-23, § 1, 9-5-2023)
Secs. 6-109—6-140. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
Rowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-108(f) caps colonies on a residentially zoned lot: two colonies on a half acre or less, four colonies on a lot larger than a half acre but under one acre, and no numeric limit at all if every hive sits at least 100 feet from all property lines. Beekeepers must also keep hives in secure, removable-frame equipment, provide a water source so bees don't congregate at neighbors' water sources, re-queen unusually aggressive colonies, and mark each hive with the keeper's name, address, and phone number.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the colony density limit for your lot size or keeping an unsanitary or aggressive colony can draw a citation, and the animal services manager may order bees removed or destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beehives can I have on a quarter-acre lot in Rowlett?
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Rowlett?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rowlett
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How other cities in Dallas County handle beekeeping.