Schaumburg, IL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max colonies
- 5 honey bee colonies per lot
- Residential setback
- 5 ft side/rear yard, 15 ft from ROW
- Flyway barrier
- Required within 20 ft of a property line
- State registration
- File within 30 days of installing a colony
- Required sign
- Min. 10x12 in., "State Registered Beehive(s)"
- Apiary spacing
- Can't sit within 600 ft of another apiary
Summary
Village Code § 154.72 lets Schaumburg residents keep honey bees as an accessory hobby use, but caps it at five colonies per lot, confines hives to the rear yard with strict setbacks, and requires a flyway barrier near property lines. Beekeepers must also register with the Illinois Department of Agriculture within 30 days of installing a colony.
The intent of these standards is to establish safe and effective practices related to the keeping of bees for hobby purposes to benefit the environment.(A)Accessory Use: The keeping of honey bees, of the European species Apis mellifera, is considered an accessory use to a principal use.(B)(2)Colony Density:a.Two (2) full beehives (hives) and two (2) "nucleus hives" shall be permitted on lots up to and including a minimum lot area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet of area, and one (1) beehive and one (1) nucleus hive shall be permitted for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet.b.Maximum Number of Colonies: Not more than five (5) honey bee colonies may be kept on any lot or parcel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56 Update 1 | Policy Manual: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
" On residential lots, subsection (B)(3)(a) confines apiaries to the rear yard, at least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines, 15 feet from any right-of-way, private road or alley, and bars them from balconies entirely; nonresidential apiaries are limited to B-3, M-1, and M-P districts with 10-foot setbacks and are barred from retail properties. A flyway barrier, forcing bees to fly at least 6 feet above ground at the property line, is mandatory whenever a hive sits within 20 feet of a lot line.
A weatherproof sign at least 10 by 12 inches reading "State Registered Beehive(s) on Property" must be posted on every lot line facing an abutting property. Beekeepers must maintain a continuous water source from March through November, changed weekly, inspect colonies twice monthly during the active season, and before applying must submit a site plan, an insurance certificate covering beekeeping, and proof of completing a beekeeping training course, plus state registration kept current for the life of the hive.
Violations & Fines
Section 154.72(9) makes clear that any colony not kept in a proper hive, or any abandoned swarm or colony, "is unlawful, and shall be removed from the village limits by the property owner upon receipt of written notice from the village." Other violations, such as exceeding the five-colony cap, skipping the required flyway barrier, or missing state registration, fall under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99: a fine of $100 to $50,000, with each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beehives can I keep in my Schaumburg backyard?
Where on my property can I put a beehive?
Do I need to register my bees with anyone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Schaumburg
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