Lucas County, OH Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- County rule
- None; state law governs
- State registration
- Required, ORC 909.02
- Registrar
- Ohio Dept of Agriculture
- Deadline
- By June 1 each year
- Hive placement
- Local zoning decides
Summary
Lucas County sets no countywide beekeeping rule. Ohio law (ORC 909.02) requires every beekeeper to register their hives with the Ohio Department of Agriculture each year by June 1. Local hive placement follows city or township zoning.
Any person owning or possessing bees shall on or before the first day of June of each year, or thereafter within thirty days after coming into ownership or possession of bees, or upon moving bees into this state from outside the state, file with the director of agriculture an application for registration.
Full Breakdown
There is no Lucas County beekeeping ordinance. The binding statewide rule is ORC 909.02, which requires anyone owning or possessing bees to file an annual registration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture on or before June 1 (or within 30 days of acquiring or moving bees into the state). Registration is required regardless of hive count and produces a certificate. Where hives may sit (setbacks, lot size) is a local land-use question handled by each city's zoning or, in unincorporated Lucas County, township zoning under ORC Chapter 519, not by the county.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register hives with the Ohio Department of Agriculture violates ORC 909.02 and can lead to state enforcement; nuisance or trespass complaints are handled locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my beehives in Ohio?
Does Lucas County limit beekeeping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lucas County
Compare Lucas County to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
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