Arizona Statewide Rule
Arizona State Beekeeping Registration Requirements
Key Facts
- Governing title
- A.R.S. Title 3, Ch. 17
- Regulator
- AZ Dept. of Agriculture
- Registration
- Required statewide
- Local zoning
- Hive placement only
Summary
Arizona requires every beekeeper to register apiaries with the State Department of Agriculture, regardless of city rules, and follows uniform statewide pest and disease management standards.
Before locating bees on an apiary site, the owner of the bees shall obtain the landowner's or lessee's permission and notify in writing persons engaged in commercial agriculture on whose land the bees may forage.
Full Breakdown
A.R.S. Title 3, Chapter 17 governs apiaries statewide and is administered by the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Beekeepers must register colonies and comply with state inspection requirements. The state preempts conflicting agricultural standards on disease control and movement of bees, although municipalities retain zoning authority over hive placement on residential lots. Africanized honeybee containment is also a statewide concern handled through the Department's apiary inspection program.
Violations & Penalties
Failure to register apiaries or comply with state inspection orders may result in administrative fines and quarantine of colonies under Title 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my beehives in Arizona?
Can my city ban beekeeping entirely?
Sources
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.