Beekeeping Laws by 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.
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
TXRegistration: Required through TAIS
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Austin, Dallas, Houston
California
CARegistration: Required through CDFA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego
Florida
FLRegistration: Required through FDACS
Hive Limits: 1 hive on properties smaller than 1/4 acre.
Cities Covered: Miami, Tampa, Orlando
New York
NYRegistration: Required through NYSDAM
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester
Ohio
OHRegistration: Required through ODA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati
Georgia
GARegistration: Required through GDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta
North Carolina
NCRegistration: Required through NCDA&CS
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville
Tennessee
TNRegistration: Required through TDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville
Colorado
CORegistration: Required through CDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs
Washington
WARegistration: Required through WSDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma
Oregon
ORRegistration: Required through ODA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Portland, Eugene, Salem
Michigan
MIRegistration: Required through MDARD
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor
Pennsylvania
PARegistration: Required through PDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
Maine
MERegistration: Required through DACF
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Portland, Bangor, Augusta
New Hampshire
NHRegistration: Required through NHDAMF
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Manchester, Nashua, Concord
Vermont
VTRegistration: Required through VAAFM
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland
Massachusetts
MARegistration: Required through MDAR
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Boston, Worcester, Cambridge
Connecticut
CTRegistration: Required through CT DoAg
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport
Rhode Island
RIRegistration: Required through RI DEM
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Providence, Warwick, Newport
New Jersey
NJRegistration: Required through NJDA
Hive Limits: Statewide rules under N.
Cities Covered: Newark, Jersey City, Trenton
Delaware
DERegistration: Required through DDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Wilmington, Dover, Newark
Maryland
MDRegistration: Required through MDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential limit.
Cities Covered: Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick
Alabama
ALRegistration: Required through ADAI
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile
Mississippi
MSRegistration: Required through MDAC
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg
Louisiana
LARegistration: Required through LDAF
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport
Arkansas
ARRegistration: Required through ASPB
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville
Kentucky
KYRegistration: Required through KDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green
South Carolina
SCRegistration: Required through DPI
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Columbia, Charleston, Greenville
Virginia
VARegistration: Required through VDACS
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond
West Virginia
WVRegistration: Required through WVDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown
Oklahoma
OKRegistration: Required through ODAFF
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman
New Mexico
NMRegistration: Required through NMDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe
Illinois
ILRegistration: Required through IDOA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford
Indiana
INRegistration: Required through OISC
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville
Iowa
IARegistration: Required through IDALS
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport
Wisconsin
WIRegistration: Required through DATCP
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay
Minnesota
MNRegistration: Required through MDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester
Missouri
MORegistration: Required through MDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield
Kansas
KSRegistration: Required through KDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City
Nebraska
NERegistration: Required through NDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
North Dakota
NDRegistration: Required through NDDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks
Arizona
AZRegistration: Required through AZDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa
Nevada
NVRegistration: Required through NDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson
Utah
UTRegistration: Required through UDAF
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo
Idaho
IDRegistration: Required through ISDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Boise, Meridian, Nampa
Montana
MTRegistration: Required through MDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Billings, Missoula, Bozeman
Wyoming
WYRegistration: Required through WDA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie
South Dakota
SDRegistration: Required through SD DANR
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen
Hawaii
HIRegistration: Required through HDOA
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua-Kona
Alaska
AKRegistration: Required through ADEC
Hive Limits: No statewide residential hive limit.
Cities Covered: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau
Do You Need a License to Keep Bees?
License vs. registration vs. local ordinance, explained state by state.
Read the GuideBeekeeping Cost Calculator
Estimate your startup and ongoing costs before you begin.
Calculate CostsShould I Start Beekeeping?
An honest look at the costs, time, and commitment involved.
Read the Guide