Missouri Bee Movement Permit and Apiary Inspection Law

Chapter 264 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, the state's Apiaries law, is enforced by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Under RSMo 264.061, no one may transport or ship bees, combs, or used beekeeping equipment into Missouri without a valid permit from the agriculture director; applicants file on a department form, attach an origin-state health certificate showing inspection within the prior 90 days, and pay a $10 application fee. State apiary inspectors examine colonies for disease and pests (RSMo 264.041) and issue a certificate of health that expires 90 days after inspection (RSMo 264.051). Infected apiaries can be quarantined and, if the condition persists, the diseased bees and equipment are eradicated under the director's supervision. Missouri sets no statewide registration or setback rule for keeping hives in your own yard.

Violating any provision of RSMo 264.011 to 264.101, or forging or misusing a certificate, is a class A misdemeanor (RSMo 264.101). Moving bees into Missouri without a permit is the core offense.