San Clemente Municipal Code 6.28.060 makes it unlawful to keep any hive or swarm of bees within the city without a permit. Only educational, physician, or laboratory research uses are exempt, and only if the bees are not allowed to fly at large.
SCMC 6.28.060 (Chapter 6.28, Wild, Exotic, Nondomesticated Animals, recodified by Ord. 1797 eff. 11-4-2025) makes it unlawful for any person to have, keep, or maintain any hive or swarm of bees within the city without a permit. The only exemptions are bees kept within an educational institution for study or observation, or within a physician's office or laboratory for medical research, treatment, or scientific purposes, and only where the bees are not permitted to fly at large. Permits run through the Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA) general manager. Beekeeping that creates a nuisance or unsanitary condition may also be reached under SCMC 6.24.060. California law separately requires apiary registration with the county agricultural commissioner.
Keeping bees without a permit is an infraction under SCMC 6.28.060 with an administrative fine (SCMC 1.16.010 / 6.04.070); a third Title 6 violation within a year becomes a misdemeanor. Nuisance hives may be abated or removed and permits revoked.
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