Mississippi Statewide Rule
Mississippi Apiary Law and State Beekeeping Regulations
Key Facts
- Statute
- Miss. Code § 69-25-1 et seq.
- Regulator
- MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry
- Inspector
- State Entomologist
- Hobby registration
- Not required statewide
- Transport rule
- Inspection certificate needed
Summary
Mississippi regulates beekeeping primarily for disease control through the Bureau of Plant Industry. The state Apiary Law authorizes inspections, transport certificates, and quarantine, while leaving residential nuisance rules to local jurisdictions.
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, its agents and employees, shall have authority to enter any depot, express office, storeroom, warehouse or premises for the purpose of inspecting any honey bees or beekeeping fixtures or appliances therein or thought to be therein, for the purpose of ascertaining whether said bees or fixtures are infected with any contagious or infectious disease or parasite or which they may have reason to believe are Africanized bees or have been or are being transported in violation of any of the provisions of this article.
Full Breakdown
The Mississippi Apiary Law (Miss. Code Section 69-25-1 et seq.) places oversight of bees and hives under the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry, with the State Entomologist serving as State Apiary Inspector. The state focuses on preventing the spread of bee diseases, parasites, and undesirable strains; the bee-disease inspection provisions sit at Sections 69-25-101 through 69-25-109. Out-of-state movement of bees, queens, or used equipment requires a state inspection certificate. Hobbyist hive registration is not currently mandatory statewide. Inspectors may enter premises, examine colonies, and order destruction of diseased bees. Local zoning may add setback or hive-count limits but cannot override state disease-control authority.
Violations & Penalties
Selling, transporting, or importing bees without required state inspection certificates; refusing inspection; or moving infected colonies can result in misdemeanor charges and quarantine orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register backyard hives in Mississippi?
Can I sell queens or nucs to other beekeepers?
Who handles complaints about diseased hives?
Sources
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