West Des Moines, IA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Hive limit, lots ≤1 acre
- 2 hives maximum
- Hive limit, lots >1 acre
- 10 hives maximum
- Yard restriction
- No hives in front or side yard
- Flyway barrier
- 6 ft high if hive within 25 ft of line
- Cure period
- 14 days to fix a violation
- Governing section
- City Code 9-10-4.A.19
Summary
City Code Section 9-10-4.A.19 caps backyard beekeeping in West Des Moines at two hives on lots of one acre or less and ten hives on larger lots, bars hives from the front or side yard, and requires a six-foot flyway barrier when a hive sits within 25 feet of a property line.
19. Beekeeping: ... In those districts in which SIC 0279-9901 is allowed, the following regulations shall apply to beekeeping operations: a. Beekeeping shall only be allowed on property owned by the beekeeper or on property owned by a third party for which the beekeeper has written authorization from the property owner allowing for the keeping of bees. b. Honeybee colonies shall be kept in hives with removable frames, with said hives kept in sound and usable condition. c. A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted on a property one (1) acre or smaller in size, while a maximum of ten (10) hives shall be permitted on a property larger than one (1) acre in size. d. Hives shall not be located in the front or side yard. ... ... h. In the event that a beekeeping operation is determined to be in violation of this Code with regard to the above regulations, the beekeeper and/or property owner shall be given written notice of the violation and be allowed fourteen (14) days from the date of the notice to correct the violation. If the property is not brought into compliance within fourteen (14) days, the hives shall be immediately removed from the property.
Full Breakdown
Section 9-10-4.A.19 applies wherever SIC code 0279-9901, 'Apiary (bee and honey farm/beekeeping),' is an allowed use; Table 5.2, Agricultural and Animal Keeping, lists that use as permitted with no minimum lot size in several residential districts. Beekeeping is allowed only on property the beekeeper owns, or on another owner's property with the beekeeper's written authorization, under subsection a. Colonies must be kept in hives with removable frames maintained in sound, usable condition under subsection b. Lots of one acre or smaller are limited to two hives; larger lots may keep up to ten hives, per subsection c.
Hives may not sit in a front or side yard under subsection d, and subsection e requires a water source available to the bees at all times they are active. Any hive within 25 feet of a property line triggers a flyway barrier requirement under subsection f: a solid wall, fence, dense vegetation, or combination at least six feet high, running at least 12 feet beyond the hive in both directions, forcing bees to fly at least six feet above ground near the property line, with a building permit required before that barrier or fence is built. Subsection g also directs beekeepers to follow Iowa State Apiarist best-management practices, including swarm and aggressive-colony management.
Violations & Fines
Under subsection h, a beekeeping operation found in violation gets written notice and 14 days from that notice to correct the problem; if the property is not brought into compliance within those 14 days, the hives must be removed from the property immediately. General City Code violations also carry the citywide civil penalty of up to $750 per offense, or $1,000 for a repeat offense, under Section 1-4-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beehives can I keep in West Des Moines?
Can I keep bees in my front yard?
Do I need a fence around my beehives?
What happens if my beekeeping violates the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Des Moines
Compare West Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.