Michigan Apiary Act MCL 286.431 governs beekeeping statewide. Detroit allows urban beekeeping with registered hives. Most Wayne County suburbs allow beekeeping with setback and hive count limits.
Beekeeping in Wayne County is governed primarily by the Michigan Bee Keepers Act MCL 286.431 through MCL 286.447 which requires all colonies to be registered with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and inspected on request. Detroit Urban Agriculture Ordinance allows hives on residential lots with a 10-foot setback from property lines and a flyway barrier at least 6 feet tall if the hive is within 25 feet of a neighboring dwelling. Typical residential limits are 2 to 4 hives per lot depending on lot size. Dearborn, Livonia, and Plymouth allow beekeeping under similar conditions. State law preempts local bans on hobbyist beekeeping in many cases. Hive registration with MDARD is free and identifies apiaries for American Foulbrood surveillance. Urban beekeepers should also notify Wayne County Extension for mentorship resources.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Wayne County's beekeeping rules stack up against other locations.
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