West Virginia Statewide Rule
West Virginia Apiary Law and Beekeeper Registration
Key Facts
- Statute
- WV Code §19-13-1 et seq.
- Registration
- Required of all beekeepers
- Regulator
- WV Commissioner of Agriculture
- Imports
- Inspection certificate required
Summary
West Virginia's Apiary Law requires all beekeepers to register their colonies with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes the state apiarist to inspect hives, quarantine diseased colonies, and order destruction or treatment to control honeybee diseases statewide.
All persons keeping bees in this state shall apply for a certificate of registration for beekeeping from the commissioner, within ten days of the date that bees are acquired, by notifying the commissioner, in writing, of the number and location of colonies they own or rent, or which they keep for someone else, whether the bees are located on their own property or someone else's property. All apiary certificates of registration expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed annually.
Full Breakdown
Under WV Code Chapter 19, Article 13, every person owning or keeping bees in West Virginia must register with the Commissioner of Agriculture and provide colony location information. The state apiarist may inspect any apiary, and if American foulbrood or other contagious bee diseases are found, may quarantine, treat, or order destruction of infected hives. Importation of bees, used equipment, and queens requires inspection certificates. The statute applies uniformly statewide; local governments may regulate hive placement on residential lots but cannot waive registration or disease-control requirements.
Violations & Penalties
Failure to register colonies, refusal to allow inspection, or non-compliance with quarantine orders is a misdemeanor punishable by fine. Diseased hives may be destroyed without compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hobby beekeepers need to register in West Virginia?
Can I bring bees into West Virginia from another state?
Sources
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.