Oregon Statewide Rule
Oregon Statewide Beekeeper Registration Requirements
Key Facts
- Threshold
- 5 or more hives
- Statute
- ORS 602.090
- Renewal
- Annually
- Penalty
- Class C violation
Summary
Oregon Department of Agriculture requires all beekeepers with five or more hives to register annually under ORS 602.090. Registration funds apiary inspection and pest monitoring programs that apply uniformly throughout the state.
602.090 Registration of bee colonies; fees; rules. (1) Every person who owns or is in charge of five or more colonies of bees located within this state, shall cause the colonies to be registered with the State Department of Agriculture. (2) Application for registration shall be made on a form furnished by the department. The registration shall cover each colony of bees owned by the applicant, and shall give the address and telephone number of the owner and the name, address and telephone number of the person in charge if the person in charge is not the owner. The registration shall be made before June 1 of each year for all colonies.
Full Breakdown
ORS Chapter 602 governs apiaries in Oregon. Anyone owning or managing five or more honey bee colonies must register with the Oregon Department of Agriculture each calendar year and pay the fee set by ORS 602.110. The state inspects apiaries for American foulbrood, varroa mites, and other diseases. Local governments may regulate hive setbacks and density through zoning, but disease control, certification of disease-free hives for movement under ORS 602.075, and apiary registration are exclusively state functions. Failure to register is a Class C violation.
Violations & Penalties
Operating five or more colonies without registration is a Class C violation under ORS 602.990, with civil penalties up to $720. ODA may also order destruction of diseased hives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do backyard beekeepers in Oregon need to register?
Who inspects Oregon apiaries for disease?
Sources
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