San Francisco permits residential beekeeping under SF Health Code Article 1 with hive registration, setback rules, and water-source requirements. The city encourages urban apiaries and hosts a thriving beekeeper community.
SF Health Code Section 37 authorizes honeybee colonies on residential and commercial properties. Beekeepers must register hives with the San Francisco Agricultural Commissioner and California Department of Food and Agriculture. Hives must be set back at least 10 feet from property lines or screened with a six-foot flyway barrier. A water source on the property prevents bees from foraging at neighboring pools. Africanized honeybee strains are prohibited; only docile European races allowed. Hives are limited per lot size, with rooftop placement encouraged. Notify neighbors before installation as best practice.
Unregistered hives, aggressive Africanized bees, missing flyway barriers, and excessive hive counts on small lots can prompt complaints and potential abatement orders.
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See how San Francisco's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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