Westminster, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Backyard beekeeping in the City of Westminster is governed by the city's own Municipal Code, Chapter 6.12 (Animals). The code provides that it is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any domestic animal, fowl, bees or livestock in or upon any public or private property in the city, except as the code allows. Anyone wishing to keep bees must apply to Westminster Animal Control for a permit and may not maintain the hive unless and until a permit is issued. Because Westminster is a compact, urban Orange County city with small residential lots, hives are not a by-right use and a permit determination by Animal Control is required first. Separately, California law requires that anyone who owns or possesses an apiary register it with the county agricultural commissioner each year under the California Food & Agricultural Code (the Apiary Protection Act, beginning at Section 29000), and bee colonies must be kept accessible for inspection. So a Westminster resident keeping bees has two layers to satisfy: the city permit under Chapter 6.12, and county-level apiary registration under state law. Anyone planning to keep bees should contact Westminster Animal Control to confirm whether a permit is available for their property and what conditions, such as hive placement and setbacks, would apply.