New Mexico Commercial Apiary Registration Law

Under NMSA Chapter 76, Article 9, commercial beekeepers must register apiaries with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture before placing or importing bees. A commercial apiary is defined as 15 or more colonies north of Interstate 40, or 25 or more colonies south of I-40. The annual registration fee is three dollars per apiary, capped at $200 per beekeeper. Bees and used equipment imported into the state require a certificate of inspection issued within 30 days of movement, filed at least 10 days before transport. The state regulates pollination permits and disposal of abandoned apiaries. Hobbyist beekeepers below the colony threshold remain subject to local zoning rules.

Operating an unregistered commercial apiary, importing bees without inspection certificates, or abandoning apiary equipment subjects beekeepers to penalties under NMDA enforcement rules.