Urban beekeeping is allowed in St. Louis under SLRC 10.12 with registration at the Missouri Department of Agriculture required per RSMo 264.011. Hives must be set back 10 feet from property lines and screened from neighbors.
St. Louis City permits residential beekeeping under SLRC 10.12.020. Beekeepers must register hives annually with the Missouri Department of Agriculture State Apiarist under RSMo 264.011. City rules require hives located at least 10 feet from any property line, screened with a 6-foot flyway barrier (fence or hedge) if within 25 feet of a dwelling, and provide a nearby water source to prevent bees from seeking water at neighboring pools. Maximum two hives on lots under 5,000 sq ft, four hives on lots 5,000-10,000 sq ft, six hives on lots over 10,000 sq ft. Africanized honey bee strains are prohibited; only Apis mellifera of European origin. The St. Louis Beekeepers Association provides training. Forest Park, Tower Grove Park community gardens, and the Missouri Botanical Garden all host demonstration hives. Nuisance swarms can be reported to ACC.
$100 for unregistered hive; order to remove for non-compliant setbacks. Swarming nuisance can trigger abatement order.
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