Beekeeping Laws by ZIP Code & State

    Understanding your local beekeeping regulations is the first step to becoming a responsible beekeeper. Registration requirements, hive limits, and setback rules vary significantly from state to state - and even between cities within the same state.

    City ordinances still vary — always confirm with your town after checking state law.

    Why Local Regulations Matter

    Most states require beekeepers to register their hives with a state agriculture department. Many cities add their own rules on top of state law - limiting the number of hives, requiring setbacks from property lines, or mandating flyway barriers. Starting without checking your local rules can lead to fines, forced hive removal, or conflicts with neighbors. We have compiled the key regulations for each state below to help you get started on the right foot.

    Showing 50 of 50 states

    Texas

    TX

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: Texas has no statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Austin, Dallas, Houston

    View Texas Laws

    California

    CA

    Registration: Required through CDFA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego

    View California Laws

    Florida

    FL

    Registration: Required through FDACS

    Hive Limits: On land not classified as agricultural, the FDACS Beekeeper Compliance Agreement limits colonies by tract size: 3 colonies on one-quarter acre or less; 6 on more than one-quarter acre but less than one-half acre; 10 on more than one-half acre but less than 1 acre; 15 on 1 to 2.

    Cities Covered: Miami, Tampa, Orlando

    View Florida Laws

    New York

    NY

    Registration: Required through NYSDAM

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester

    View New York Laws

    Ohio

    OH

    Registration: Required through ODA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati

    View Ohio Laws

    Georgia

    GA

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta

    View Georgia Laws

    North Carolina

    NC

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: State law limits how far local governments can restrict hives.

    Cities Covered: Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville

    View North Carolina Laws

    Tennessee

    TN

    Registration: Required through TDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville

    View Tennessee Laws

    Colorado

    CO

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs

    View Colorado Laws

    Washington

    WA

    Registration: Required through WSDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma

    View Washington Laws

    Oregon

    OR

    Registration: Required through ODA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Portland, Eugene, Salem

    View Oregon Laws

    Michigan

    MI

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor

    View Michigan Laws

    Pennsylvania

    PA

    Registration: Required through PDA

    Hive Limits: Pennsylvania has no statewide hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg

    View Pennsylvania Laws

    Maine

    ME

    Registration: Required through DACF

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Portland, Bangor, Augusta

    View Maine Laws

    New Hampshire

    NH

    Registration: Required through NHDAMF

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Manchester, Nashua, Concord

    View New Hampshire Laws

    Vermont

    VT

    Registration: Required through VAAFM

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland

    View Vermont Laws

    Massachusetts

    MA

    Registration: Required through MDAR

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Boston, Worcester, Cambridge

    View Massachusetts Laws

    Connecticut

    CT

    Registration: Required through CT DoAg

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport

    View Connecticut Laws

    Rhode Island

    RI

    Registration: Required through RI DEM

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Providence, Warwick, Newport

    View Rhode Island Laws

    New Jersey

    NJ

    Registration: Required through NJDA

    Hive Limits: Statewide rules under N.

    Cities Covered: Newark, Jersey City, Trenton

    View New Jersey Laws

    Delaware

    DE

    Registration: Required through DDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Wilmington, Dover, Newark

    View Delaware Laws

    Maryland

    MD

    Registration: Required through MDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.

    Cities Covered: Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick

    View Maryland Laws

    Alabama

    AL

    Registration: Required through ADAI

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile

    View Alabama Laws

    Mississippi

    MS

    Registration: Required through MDAC

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg

    View Mississippi Laws

    Louisiana

    LA

    Registration: Required through LDAF

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport

    View Louisiana Laws

    Arkansas

    AR

    Registration: Required through ASPB

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville

    View Arkansas Laws

    Kentucky

    KY

    Registration: Required through KDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green

    View Kentucky Laws

    South Carolina

    SC

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Columbia, Charleston, Greenville

    View South Carolina Laws

    Virginia

    VA

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond

    View Virginia Laws

    West Virginia

    WV

    Registration: Required through WVDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown

    View West Virginia Laws

    Oklahoma

    OK

    Registration: Required through ODAFF

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman

    View Oklahoma Laws

    New Mexico

    NM

    Registration: Required through NMDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe

    View New Mexico Laws

    Illinois

    IL

    Registration: Required through IDOA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford

    View Illinois Laws

    Indiana

    IN

    Registration: Required through OISC

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville

    View Indiana Laws

    Iowa

    IA

    Registration: Required through IDALS

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport

    View Iowa Laws

    Wisconsin

    WI

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay

    View Wisconsin Laws

    Minnesota

    MN

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester

    View Minnesota Laws

    Missouri

    MO

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield

    View Missouri Laws

    Kansas

    KS

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City

    View Kansas Laws

    Nebraska

    NE

    Registration: Required through NDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue

    View Nebraska Laws

    North Dakota

    ND

    Registration: Required through NDDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks

    View North Dakota Laws

    Arizona

    AZ

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa

    View Arizona Laws

    Nevada

    NV

    Registration: Required through NDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson

    View Nevada Laws

    Utah

    UT

    Registration: Required through UDAF

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo

    View Utah Laws

    Idaho

    ID

    Registration: Required through ISDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Boise, Meridian, Nampa

    View Idaho Laws

    Montana

    MT

    Registration: Required through MDA

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Billings, Missoula, Bozeman

    View Montana Laws

    Wyoming

    WY

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie

    View Wyoming Laws

    South Dakota

    SD

    Registration: Required through SD DANR

    Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen

    View South Dakota Laws

    Hawaii

    HI

    Registration: Not required statewide

    Hive Limits: Hawaii has no statewide hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua-Kona

    View Hawaii Laws

    Alaska

    AK

    Registration: Required through DNR Division of Agriculture

    Hive Limits: Alaska has no statewide hive limit.

    Cities Covered: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau

    View Alaska Laws

    Do You Need a License to Keep Bees?

    License vs. registration vs. local ordinance, explained state by state.

    Read the Guide

    Beekeeping Cost Calculator

    Estimate your startup and ongoing costs before you begin.

    Calculate Costs

    Should I Start Beekeeping?

    An honest look at the costs, time, and commitment involved.

    Read the Guide

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