Woodland, CA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Hive cap, lot under 10,000 sq ft
- 2 hives
- Hive cap, lot over 10,000 sq ft
- 4 hives
- Allowed location
- Rear yard only
- Setback without fence
- 25 feet from neighbor's line
- Registration required with
- Planning Director + Yolo Ag Commissioner
Summary
Backyard beekeeping in Woodland is capped at two hives on lots under 10,000 square feet and four on larger lots, confined to rear yards under Zoning Code § 17.84.110.B, and requires registration with the Planning Director plus the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner before an apiary can be established.
A maximum of two beehives per lot on a parcel of land less than 10,000 square feet. 4. A maximum of four beehives per lot on a parcel of land with an area over 10,000 square feet. 5. Beehives are restricted to rear yards. ... Beekeeping Registration. Beekeeping registration is required prior to establishment of an apiary, as follows: ... The applicant must register the apiary with the County of Yolo Agricultural Commissioner to receive notification of pesticide applications, pursuant to § 29101 of the California Food and Agricultural Code.
Full Breakdown
Section 17.84.110 lets residents keep bees to support pollination and the City's sustainability goals, but ties the privilege to specific numeric and placement standards. Hive counts are capped by lot size: a maximum of two hives on parcels under 10,000 square feet, four on parcels larger than that, and every hive must sit in a rear yard. To manage the honeybee flight path, the keeper must either orient the hive entrance away from the neighboring property behind a six-foot solid fence or hedge running parallel to the line, or set the hive back at least 25 feet from the neighboring property line.
Keepers must also follow good management practices to prevent swarming and aggressive behavior and must supply the bees with their own water source so they do not seek out neighboring pools, birdbaths or ponds. Before establishing an apiary, the keeper must register it: the Planning Director reviews plans for compliance with these standards, and the applicant must separately register with the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food and Agricultural Code § 29101 so the apiary receives notice of pesticide applications, plus sign a statement agreeing to hold the City harmless for noncompliance.
Violations & Fines
Bees or hives are declared a public nuisance under § 17.84.110.D, and subject to Chapter 17.128 enforcement, whenever a colony shows defensive or objectionable behavior, swarms, fails to conform to the section's standards, or is abandoned by its bees or owner; enforcement can include abatement, and a violation is a misdemeanor chargeable as an infraction under Municipal Code § 1.08.070, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beehives can I keep at my Woodland home?
Do I need to register my Woodland apiary before keeping bees?
What can make my Woodland beehives a legal nuisance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodland
California rules heatmap·Compare Woodland to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Beekeeping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle beekeeping.