All State Regulations

    Beekeeping Laws & Regulations in Alaska

    Everything you need to know about legally keeping bees in Alaska - from state registration to city-specific ordinances.

    Last updated: · Verified against official sources

    Yes — Alaska requires beekeepers to register their hives with the DNR Division of Agriculture.

    Alaska has no statewide hive limit. See the exact fees, hive limits, setbacks, and city ordinances for 2026 below.

    Last updated

    Key Facts - Alaska Beekeeping

    Registration Required

    Yes - through DNR Division of Agriculture

    Residential Hive Limits

    Alaska has no statewide hive limit.

    State Agency

    Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture

    State Registration Requirements

    Alaska requires everyone who keeps bees, including hobbyists, to register them with the Division of Agriculture (AS 03.47.030; 11 AAC 35.010–35.020). You must notify the division of your bees and their location within 72 hours of getting them, and again every year after that, using the division's registration form. The form asks how many packages you received, how many hives you overwintered, where you bought the bees, and where they are kept. You can email it to bee.registration@alaska.gov or mail it to the Alaska Division of Agriculture, ATTN: Bee Registration, 1801 S. Margaret Dr., Palmer, AK 99645. You must also notify the division at least 15 days before moving bees from one area of the state to another.

    Registration Fees

    No fee is listed on the state bee registration form. Check with the Division of Agriculture for current fees.

    Register with DNR Division of Agriculture

    Residential Beekeeping Rules

    Hive Limits - Residential

    Alaska has no statewide hive limit. Local zoning codes set limits: Anchorage allows no more than four hives on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough caps hives at four, with fewer allowed on smaller lots.

    Hive Limits - Rural / Agricultural

    No statewide limit. Check local zoning; the Fairbanks North Star Borough, for example, caps hives at four in its Rural Residential zone.

    Setback Requirements

    Alaska has no statewide setback for hives. Local codes set them. Anchorage requires hives to be 25 feet from lot lines not in common ownership, have entrances facing away from neighboring property, or sit behind a 6-foot fence. The Fairbanks North Star Borough requires the zoning district setback or 20 feet, whichever is greater, which can drop to 10 feet with a 6-foot solid barrier or hives raised at least 6 feet.

    City-Specific Regulations

    Anchorage

    Hive Limits

    No more than four hives on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet (AMC 21.05.070D.3). Beekeeping is a permitted accessory use in most zoning districts.

    Setbacks

    Colonies must be managed so their flight path does not bring bees into contact with people on adjacent property. To do this, hives must meet one of three conditions: be at least 25 feet from any lot line not in common ownership, have entrances facing away from adjacent property, or be placed behind a fence at least 6 feet high that extends at least 10 feet beyond the hive in all directions.

    Notes

    Anchorage defines beekeeping as keeping honey bees (Apis mellifera) for education or for producing honey and other bee products. State registration with the Division of Agriculture is also required. Bears are a risk to hives throughout the Anchorage area, and electric fencing is widely recommended.

    Anchorage ordinance

    Fairbanks

    Hive Limits

    Under Fairbanks North Star Borough code, honey bees are allowed in single-family, two-family, and multiple-family residential districts on lots of 2,000 square feet or more. Lots from 2,000 to 9,999 square feet may have up to two hives. On lots of 10,000 square feet or more, one more hive is allowed for each additional 5,000 square feet, up to a maximum of four hives. The Rural Residential zone also allows up to four hives.

    Setbacks

    Beehives must meet the zoning district's required setback or 20 feet, whichever is greater. The setback can be reduced to 10 feet if a solid barrier at least 6 feet tall (fence, wall, or dense hedge) stands between the hive entrance and the lot line and extends at least 2 feet on either side of the hive, or if the bottom of the hive is raised at least 6 feet above the adjacent grade.

    Notes

    The borough's urban livestock rules require the property owner's written consent and do not permit on-site sales of animal products. State registration with the Division of Agriculture is also required. Bears are a serious threat to hives in the Interior, and electric fencing is widely recommended.

    Fairbanks ordinance

    Juneau

    Hive Limits

    Check with the City and Borough of Juneau Community Development Department. Land use rules are in CBJ Title 49, and residents should confirm whether hive number or placement rules apply to their zoning district before setting up.

    Setbacks

    Confirm any setback requirements with the City and Borough of Juneau before placing hives.

    Notes

    State registration with the Division of Agriculture is required. Juneau beekeepers commonly use electric fences to protect hives from bears, and most start new colonies each spring with packages from the Lower 48.

    Juneau ordinance

    Key Laws & Statutes

    Bees and Beekeeping Equipment

    Alaska Statutes Title 3, Chapter 47 (AS 03.47.020–03.47.030)

    Requires all bees imported into Alaska to come with a health certificate stating they are from an apiary apparently free of bee diseases, signed by a qualified apiary inspector. The chapter also sets out the Division of Agriculture's duties and authority over bees and beekeeping equipment.

    Bees: general requirements

    11 AAC 35.010

    Requires all bees entering Alaska to be free of bee disease, including American and European foulbrood, acarine mites, and other serious parasitic pests. All bees and beekeeping equipment in the state are subject to inspection by the director.

    Bees: duties of importers and beekeepers

    11 AAC 35.020

    Anyone importing bees must send the division a copy of the health certificate within 72 hours after the bees arrive, and the certificate must be issued within 90 days before shipment. Anyone keeping bees must notify the division of the bees and their location within 72 hours of getting them and every year after that. Anyone moving bees within the state must give 15 days' notice, and sellers must tell buyers about these requirements.

    Anchorage beekeeping accessory use standards

    Anchorage Municipal Code § 21.05.070D.3

    Makes beekeeping a permitted accessory use in most Anchorage zoning districts. Colonies must be managed so their flight path doesn't bring bees into contact with people on neighboring property, and no more than four hives are allowed on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet.

    Fairbanks North Star Borough standards for urban livestock (honey bees)

    FNSB Code § 18.96.250

    Allows honey bees on lots of 2,000 square feet or more in residential, light commercial, general commercial, and light industrial districts, with a hive cap based on lot size and a maximum of four. Beehives must meet the zoning district setback or 20 feet, whichever is greater, unless a barrier or elevation reduction applies.

    Selling Honey in Alaska

    Alaska's Homemade Food rules, administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation's Food Safety and Sanitation Program, let many home-produced foods that don't need refrigeration, including honey, be sold without a state food establishment permit if the seller follows the rules. Packaged homemade foods must be labeled with the producer's information and a statement that the food was made in a home kitchen and is not regulated or inspected. There are also limits on where and how the products can be sold. Check DEC's Homemade Food page for the current labeling language, allowed sales venues, and any local business license requirements before you start selling.

    Official Alaska guidance
    Price your honey for AlaskaList your honey free

    Alaska Beekeeping Association

    Southcentral Alaska Beekeepers Association (SABA)

    The Southcentral Alaska Beekeepers Association serves beekeepers in the Anchorage and Southcentral region. It holds regular member meetings in Eagle River and offers education and support for local beekeepers. Interior beekeepers can also look to the Interior Alaska Beekeepers Association in the Fairbanks area.

    Visit Southcentral Alaska Beekeepers Association (SABA)

    Climate & Regional Considerations

    Alaska has the most extreme beekeeping climate in the U.S. Winters are long, cold, and dark, and many Alaskan beekeepers treat beekeeping as a seasonal activity, installing new packages in spring and harvesting before winter. Some beekeepers do overwinter colonies, but it takes careful preparation, and losses can be high. Long summer days allow fast colony buildup during the short season, and fireweed is an important nectar source in many areas. Bears are a major threat to Alaskan apiaries, so electric fencing is essential. Small hive beetles were detected in Alaska for the first time in 2025, so check incoming packages carefully.

    See the month-by-month Alaska beekeeping calendar

    Tips for Alaska Beekeepers

    • Register your bees with the Alaska Division of Agriculture within 72 hours of getting them, and renew every year. The form can be emailed to bee.registration@alaska.gov.
    • When you import packages, make sure they come with a health certificate issued within 90 days before shipment, and send a copy to the Division of Agriculture within 72 hours of arrival.
    • Notify the Division of Agriculture at least 15 days before moving bees from one area of the state to another.
    • Protect hives with an electric fence from the start. Bears are attracted to hives and will eat bees, brood, and honey.
    • Inspect new packages for small hive beetles. The beetle was first found in Alaska in 2025, at an apiary in the Copper River Census Area that had bought packages from Mississippi. Report suspected beetles to the Division of Agriculture.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Sources & Official References

    Last checked against these sources on . This page summarizes Alaska law for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm with DNR Division of Agriculture and your city or county before setting up hives.

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

    Other State Regulations

    Alaska Beekeeping Calendar

    Month-by-month tasks for Alaska — when to inspect, treat for mites, harvest, and prep for winter.

    View Alaska Calendar

    Beekeeping Cost Calculator

    Estimate startup costs, ongoing expenses, and potential honey revenue for your beekeeping operation in Alaska.

    Calculate Costs

    Do You Need a License to Keep Bees?

    Most states require hive registration, not a license. Our guide explains the difference and what Alaska expects before you start.

    Read the Guide

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