Waynesville, MO Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Chapter 217 of the Waynesville Municipal Code lets residents keep honey bees, but only within a permit-and-density framework administered by the Building Inspector. Section 217.030 requires an application for a Beekeeping Permit before anyone may keep bees within City limits, restricted to properly designated zoning areas, and charges a ten-dollar ($10.00) fee that covers a site inspection before the permit issues. Section 217.050 then scales how many colonies a lot may hold to its size: a half-acre lot or smaller is capped at two colonies, a lot larger than a half-acre but under three-quarters of an acre may hold four, a lot between three-quarters of an acre and one acre may hold six, a lot from one to under five acres may hold eight, and any lot larger than five acres has no numeric restriction.

Where a colony sits closer than twenty-five feet to a property line, or fifteen feet if the hive entrance faces south, the beekeeper must build and maintain a flyway barrier at least six feet tall, of wall, fence or dense vegetation, running ten feet past the hive in each direction, unless the adjoining land is undeveloped, zoned agricultural or industrial, outside City limits, or protected wildlife or park land. Section 217.060 lets the Building Official or Animal Control Officer inspect any apiary once a year between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with prior notice, and more often without notice if a complaint comes in.

Under Section 217.070, a confirmed violation that is not fixed can lead to relocation, removal or, in extreme cases, destruction of the bees, and disqualifies that lot from a new beekeeping permit for two years.