Washington State Apiary Registration and Beekeeping Rules

Under RCW 15.60.021, any person owning bee colonies must register with WSDA by April 1 each year, providing apiary location and hive counts. Registration fees support inspection programs that detect American foulbrood and other diseases. RCW 15.60.045 authorizes the WSDA director to inspect apiaries, quarantine infected hives, and order destruction of diseased equipment. The statute applies uniformly statewide while permitting local zoning rules on hive placement, setbacks, and density.

Failure to register an apiary, refusing inspection, or moving quarantined bees constitutes a misdemeanor under RCW 15.60.055, with civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation imposed by WSDA.