Maine Statewide Rule

Maine state law: bee inspection and registration (7 MRS Chapter 740)

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Key Facts

State statute: 7 MRS Chapter 740 (§ 2700 et seq.)
Administering agency: Maine DACF Apiary Program
Registration: Required for apiaries with movable combs
Local zoning: Set by municipal code under 30-A § 3001

Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: 7 MRSA §2701 - Licensing (apiary)

Summary

Maine regulates honey-bee colonies through statewide inspection and disease control administered by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; residential beekeeping zoning is left to municipalities.

All persons owning honeybees within the State shall annually notify the commissioner of the keeping of bees and the location of the bees and shall forward to the commissioner for deposit with the Treasurer of State an annual license fee for all bees kept on June 15th of each year. Fees must be established by rule. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 8071, subsection 3, rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. License fees accrue as a dedicated revenue to the division of animal and plant health to fund the cost of apiary inspection and licensing.

Source: 7 MRSA §2701 - Licensing (apiary)View official code

Full Breakdown

Maine regulates honey bee colonies through 7 MRS Chapter 740 (Bee Inspection), administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Apiary Program. The statute establishes statewide bee inspection authority, registration requirements for apiaries with movable combs, disease-control measures (notably American Foulbrood), and certificate requirements for the interstate movement of bees. The state framework does NOT set residential-zoning rules for how many hives an urban or suburban beekeeper may keep, hive density per acre, setback from property lines, flyway-barrier requirements, or water-source requirements. Zoning of backyard beekeeping is set by municipal ordinance under 30-A MRS § 3001 home-rule authority. Beekeepers should register their apiary with DACF Bee Inspection and consult the local code for any residential beekeeping zoning rule. Portland permits beekeeping in residential zones with hive-setback rules; many smaller Maine towns have no specific ordinance and treat beekeeping as a permitted accessory use.

Violations & Penalties

Failure to register apiaries or to comply with DACF disease-control orders is enforceable under 7 MRS Chapter 740: civil penalties and quarantine/destruction of infected colonies. Municipal hive-setback violations are typical civil infractions with fines of $50-$250 plus required relocation of the hive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register my beehives with the State of Maine?

Yes. Under 7 MRS Chapter 740, beekeepers must register movable-comb hives with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Apiary Program. The state inspector may examine the apiary for American Foulbrood and other regulated diseases.

Does the state set a maximum number of hives per residential lot?

No. Maine state law does not cap hives per lot or require any specific residential-zone setback. Density and setback rules are entirely municipal under 30-A § 3001.

Can a Maine town ban beekeeping?

A municipality may restrict residential beekeeping through its zoning code under home-rule authority, but state inspection and disease-control authority over registered apiaries remains with DACF.

Sources

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