Beekeeping is allowed in Somerville with Board of Health permitting and mandatory state registration under MGL Chapter 128 Section 31A, with hive setbacks and flyway barriers required.
Beekeeping is permitted in Somerville as part of its urban agriculture policy, subject to registration with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources under MGL Chapter 128 Section 31A and a local permit from the Somerville Board of Health. Typical conditions include annual apiary registration with MDAR, a water source provided on the property to reduce bee visits to neighbors, and hives set at least 10 feet from any property line with a six-foot flyway barrier (fence or dense hedge) where hives are closer than 25 feet from a neighboring dwelling. Hives must be positioned with entrances facing away from adjoining properties when feasible. Africanized subspecies are prohibited. Beekeepers must manage swarming, disease (American foulbrood inspection by the state apiary inspector), and mite control. Violations can result in hive removal orders and fines beginning at 100 dollars.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Somerville, MA
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Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
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