Mono County, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Mono County's animal code (Title 9) does not contain a chapter dedicated to honeybees or apiaries, and hives are not part of the General Plan 'animal unit' table that governs livestock and poultry. The primary legal requirement for keeping bees in the county comes from California state law. Under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040 (Registration and Identification of Apiaries), every person who keeps bees in California must register their apiary with the agricultural commissioner of the county where the bees are located. Registration is renewed annually, generally by the start of each year, and anyone who moves bees into the area or acquires an apiary must register within thirty days. Hobbyist beekeepers keeping a small number of colonies and not in the business of beekeeping are typically exempt from the fee but must still file the registration form. Registration also triggers a protective benefit: pesticide applicators must notify registered beekeepers before applying bee-toxic pesticides to nearby blooming crops. Because Mono County is an agricultural, ranching county, apiaries are generally an accepted agricultural use, but beekeepers should confirm any setback or nuisance considerations with the county and avoid creating a nuisance under Chapter 9.36's general provisions. Always verify current registration steps and fees with the Mono County Agricultural Commissioner.