Georgia Statewide Rule

Georgia Bans Local Honeybee Restrictions (O.C.G.A. 2-14-41.1)

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Georgia (2026)

Key Facts

Governing statute: O.C.G.A. § 2-14-41.1
Local bans: Preempted; hives protected statewide
Seller license fee: $25 (§ 2-14-40)
Max penalty: $500 or 6 months jail
Enforcing agency: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Georgia law bars counties and cities from banning, impeding, or restricting honeybee hives, so keeping bees is protected statewide under O.C.G.A. § 2-14-41.1. Local governments keep zoning authority, and only people who sell bees commercially need a $25 state license.

No county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution prohibiting, impeding, or restricting the establishment or maintenance of honeybees in hives. This Code section shall not be construed to restrict the zoning authority of county or municipal governments.

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Full Breakdown

Section 2-14-41.1 preempts local honeybee bans: no county, city, consolidated government, or political subdivision may adopt or keep any ordinance, rule, or resolution prohibiting, impeding, or restricting the establishment or maintenance of honeybees in hives, though zoning power survives. Anyone running a business selling bees, queens, or nuclei must obtain a $25 license from the Commissioner of Agriculture under § 2-14-40. The Commissioner may register and inspect colonies to combat bee diseases and Africanized bees (§ 2-14-43), and importing bees or used equipment into Georgia requires a special permit (§ 2-14-46).

Violations & Penalties

Selling bees without a license, or otherwise violating the article or the Commissioner's rules, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment up to six months in county jail under O.C.G.A. § 2-14-47.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my city ban backyard beehives in Georgia?

No. O.C.G.A. § 2-14-41.1 forbids any county or city from prohibiting, impeding, or restricting honeybee hives. Cities keep zoning authority, but a flat ban on keeping bees is not allowed.

Do I need a license to keep bees in Georgia?

Only if you sell bees, queens, or nuclei as a business: that requires a $25 license from the Commissioner of Agriculture under § 2-14-40. Hobbyist beekeepers and honey producers need no such license.

Sources

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