San Diego, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max Hives
- 2 per residential lot
- Setback
- 15 ft or outside setbacks
- Barrier
- 6 ft required
- Re-queening
- Every 2 years
- Registration
- County Ag Dept required
Summary
San Diego allows 1-2 beehives on residential property per SDMC Chapter 4, Article 4, Division 4. Hives must be outside setbacks or 15 feet from property lines. A 6-foot barrier is required unless hives are 8+ feet above ground. Registration with County Agriculture Department required (no City permit).
In 2012, the City of San Diego amended its Municipal Code to allow residents of single-family homes, community gardens and retail farms to keep and maintain two beehives. The specific regulations are in Chapter 4, Article 4, Division 4 of the Municipal Code [...]. Summary of Regulations: A beekeeper shall register the apiary with the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner within 30 days of establishing the apiary. An apiary of three or more hives must be at least 600 feet from a building used as a residence and 100 feet from the public right-of-way. An apiary of one or two hives must be located outside of all setbacks, or 15 feet from the property line and 20 feet from the public right-of-way, whichever is greater. An apiary of one or two hives must do the following: Locate the beehive in a secured area. Re-queen the beehive every two years. Locate the beehive so that it is not visible from the public right-of-way. Surround the beehive with a 6-foot tall barrier unless it is at least 8 feet above the ground.
Full Breakdown
SDMC Chapter 4, Article 4, Division 4 governs beekeeping in San Diego. Residents of single-family homes may keep 1 or 2 beehives. Hives must be located outside all setbacks or at least 15 feet from the property line and 20 feet from the public right-of-way, whichever is greater. A 6-foot tall barrier (fence, wall, or dense hedge) must surround the hive area unless the hive is at least 8 feet above ground level. Hives must not be visible from the public right-of-way. Queens must be re-queened every two years. Hives must be in a secured area. Three or more hives constitute an apiary requiring at least 600 feet from any residence and 100 feet from public right-of-way. No city permit is required, but all beekeepers must register with the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures.
Violations & Fines
Code enforcement action for non-compliant hive placement. Unregistered hives may be removed by County Agriculture Department. Aggressive bee colonies may trigger mandatory re-queening or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees in San Diego?
What are the setback requirements for beehives?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle beekeeping.