St. Petersburg, FL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- State preemption
- FS 586
- FDACS registration
- Required
- Setback guidance
- 10-25 feet
- Local nuisance code
- Chapter 11
- HOA rules
- Not preempted
Summary
Beekeeping in St. Petersburg is preempted by Florida Statute 586 and FDACS rules, allowing residential hives that follow state Best Management Requirements with FDACS registration.
586.055 Location of apiaries. — An apiary may be located on land classified as agricultural under s. 193.461 or on land that is integral to a beekeeping operation.
586.10 Powers and duties of department; preemption of local government ordinances. — (1) The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof.
Full Breakdown
Under Florida Statute Chapter 586 (Honeybees) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) rules, the state preempts local ordinances that prohibit beekeeping outside HOA or deed-restricted communities. St. Petersburg therefore allows backyard hives provided beekeepers follow FDACS Best Management Requirements (BMR) for European honey bees and register every colony with FDACS as required by FS 586.04. Recommended practices include maintaining a water source, gentle stock, hive setbacks of 10 to 25 feet from property lines depending on lot size, and barrier flyway fencing. City Codes Compliance may still respond to nuisance or aggressive-bee complaints under Chapter 11 environmental protection.
Violations & Fines
Violations of FDACS BMR or registration can lead to state inspection orders, hive removal, and civil fines; St. Petersburg may treat aggressive colonies as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in St. Petersburg?
Can my HOA still ban hives in St. Petersburg?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Petersburg
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pinellas County handle beekeeping.