St. George, UT Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max hives per lot
- 8 hives, or equivalent capacity
- Density limit
- 2 hives per 12,000 sq ft
- Property line setback
- 5 feet minimum
- School buffer
- 500 feet minimum
- Commercial apiaries
- Agricultural zones A-1/A-5/A-10/A-20 only
Summary
St. George caps residential apiaries at two hives per 12,000 square feet, eight hives maximum, with setback, water, and flyaway-barrier rules under city code section 10-17A-4.
Property owners in zones in which apiaries are allowed uses may maintain two (2) hives, or equivalent capacity, per twelve thousand (12,000) square feet of property. In no case shall the total number of hives located on a property exceed eight (8) hives, or equivalent capacity. ... Hives shall not be located within five hundred feet (500') of a public or private school property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
St. George City Code section 10-17A-4 authorizes apiaries in zones where they are an allowed use, capping density at two hives (or equivalent capacity) per 12,000 square feet of property, up to eight hives total. Hives must sit in the side or rear yard, at least five feet from any property line, six inches to six feet above ground, and can't be closer than 500 feet to a school. Owners must keep water on-site and post their name, address, phone, and state registration number on each hive. Commercial apiaries are restricted to the A-1, A-5, A-10 and A-20 agricultural zones.
Violations & Fines
Nuisance beekeeping is unlawful regardless of technical compliance under subsection K; hives within 25 feet of a property line without a six-foot flyaway barrier, missing beekeeper ID markings, or exceeding the hive cap are code violations subject to city zoning enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees in a St. George residential yard?
Do hives near a property line need a barrier?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
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