Victorville, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed
- Residential hobby keeping
- Hive Setback
- 15 to 20 feet
- Flyway Barrier
- 6 feet solid or hedge
- County Registration
- Required under state law
- Africanized Risk
- Requeening recommended
Summary
Backyard beekeeping is allowed in Victorville in most residential zones with hive setbacks and registration under California law. State bee registration through the county agricultural commissioner is required.
Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in which they maintain, possess, or are in possession of an apiary, or within 30 days thereafter, as prescribed in this article.
Full Breakdown
Victorville permits limited hobby beekeeping under its zoning and animal regulations, with a typical structure of one or two hives on standard residential lots and more on larger rural parcels. Hives must be set back from property lines, commonly 15 to 20 feet, with a 6-foot flyway barrier (fence, dense hedge, or flyway screen) between the hive entrance and the nearest neighbor property to lift bee flight paths above head height. Hives must have a reliable water source on the keeper property to prevent bees from going to pools or neighbor yards. Under California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 29040 and 29041, apiary locations must be registered with the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner. The High Desert is prone to Africanized honey bee colonization, so requeening from identified European stock and prompt swarm removal are standard best practices. Commercial and migratory apiaries require additional zoning review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Victorville?
How many hives can I keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Victorville
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle beekeeping.