Massachusetts Statewide Rule

Massachusetts Beekeeping Registration and Apiary Inspection Law (c.128)

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Massachusetts (2026)

Key Facts

Governing law: M.G.L. c.128, §32
Registration fee cap: $5 per registrant
Enforcing agency: MDAR chief apiary inspector
First-violation penalty: Up to $30
Out-of-state bees: Health certificate required

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Massachusetts authorizes its chief apiary inspector to require registration of every bee colony kept in the commonwealth, with a fee capped at five dollars per registrant regardless of colony count, backed by statewide disease inspection under M.G.L. c.128, §32.

...and for this public purpose may require by regulation the registration of all bee colonies kept within the commonwealth and their location by the owners or caretakers thereof, the fee for which shall be determined by the secretary of administration and finance, which in no case shall exceed five dollars per registrant, regardless of the number of colonies so registered by him.

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Full Breakdown

Under M.G.L. c.128, §32, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources maintains a full-time chief apiary inspector who runs the state program to inspect bee colonies and suppress contagious diseases. The inspector may require, by regulation, that owners or caretakers register all bee colonies and their locations, for a fee set by the secretary of administration and finance that can never exceed five dollars per registrant, no matter how many colonies you keep. Section 35 bars shipping any colony or used equipment into Massachusetts without a health certificate showing inspection within sixty days. Inspectors may enter any place where bees or equipment are kept.

Violations & Penalties

The department imposes civil administrative penalties under M.G.L. c.128, §38 of not more than $30 for a first violation, $75 for a second, and $150 for each subsequent violation of the disease-control and importation provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register my beehives in Massachusetts?

Yes. Under M.G.L. c.128, §32 the state apiary inspector may require registration of all bee colonies and their locations by owners or caretakers, for a fee not exceeding five dollars per registrant.

Can I bring bees into Massachusetts from another state?

Only with a certificate showing the origin state's apiary inspector inspected the colony or used equipment within the prior sixty days and found it free of infectious or contagious disease, per §35.

What are the penalties for violations?

Section 38 sets civil penalties of up to $30 for a first violation, $75 for a second, and $150 for each subsequent violation of the disease and importation rules.

Sources

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