West Hartford, CT Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Section 177-12, added June 13, 2017, permits keeping the common domestic honeybee, Apis mellifera, as an accessory use in the districts listed under § 177-6C, Item 28 of the zoning schedule. The minimum lot size is 6,000 square feet, and the maximum number of colonies scales with the district: one colony in the R-6 District, two in R-10, R-13 and R-20, three in R-40, and four in R-80. Every colony must sit in a rear yard at least 20 feet from any property line, and a flyway barrier at least six feet tall, made of wall, fence, dense vegetation or a combination, must shield any part of a property line within 50 feet of the hive so the bees fly over rather than through it.

Keepers must also provide an on-site fresh water source closer to the hive than any water source on neighboring property, keep hives with removable frames in sound condition, and maintain enough space to prevent overcrowding and swarming. No one may keep honeybees in West Hartford without a permit from the Town Planner, obtained by written application under § 177-41 and a zoning permit fee set by § 177-50. The Town Planner has 30 days to approve, disapprove or conditionally approve an application, must mail notice to adjoining property owners, and requires the applicant to post a notice sign on the property for the duration of the review.

Permits renew annually at no cost but are revoked if not renewed within one week of expiration, and applicants must separately register bees each October 1 with the State Entomologist.