All State Regulations

    Beekeeping Laws & Regulations in Arizona

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

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    No — Arizona does not require you to register your hives with the state.

    No statewide residential hive limit. See the exact hive limits, setbacks, and city ordinances for 2026 below.

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    Key Facts - Arizona Beekeeping

    Registration Required

    No - not required statewide

    Residential Hive Limits

    No statewide residential hive limit.

    State Agency

    None. Arizona has no state apiary registration or inspection program; the Arizona Department of Agriculture does not register beekeepers.

    State Registration Requirements

    Arizona does not register apiaries or inspect colonies at the state level. The state's bee statutes (formerly A.R.S. Title 3, Chapter 6, 'Bees and Apiaries') were repealed in 1994 at beekeepers' request, ending the state apiary inspector program. The main remaining state rule is A.R.S. § 3-367.02: before placing bees on an apiary site, the beekeeper must get the landowner's or lessee's permission and give written notice to people engaged in commercial agriculture on whose land the bees may forage. The notice must include the beekeeper's address and phone number, the hive location within a quarter section, and the dates the bees will be there. Without that notice, the beekeeper effectively loses recourse for bee losses from pesticide applications. Local rules come from cities, counties, and HOAs.

    Registration Fees

    None. Arizona has no state apiary registration.

    Visit the AZDA apiary program

    Residential Beekeeping Rules

    Hive Limits - Residential

    No statewide residential hive limit. Cities set their own rules, and they vary widely. Phoenix allows one hive per 1,700 square feet of lot area, Tucson one per 2,500 square feet in most zones, and Mesa allows apiaries only in AG and one-acre-lot (R1-43/RS-43) zones.

    Hive Limits - Rural / Agricultural

    No statewide limit on rural or agricultural land. County and city zoning may apply.

    Setback Requirements

    No statewide setback. Local rules vary: Phoenix requires 5 feet from any lot line; Tucson requires a 5-foot-tall barrier if bees are kept within 30 feet of a lot line; Mesa requires hives in AG districts to be at least 75 feet from any neighboring residence.

    City-Specific Regulations

    Phoenix

    Hive Limits

    No more than one hive or colony per 1,700 square feet of lot area. On lots smaller than 6,000 square feet, you need written permission from all lawful occupants and owners of adjoining lots in the immediate vicinity.

    Setbacks

    No hive may be kept within 5 feet of any boundary line of the lot.

    Notes

    Phoenix City Code § 8-8 (keeping of bees) also requires a constant, easily accessible water supply sufficient for all the bees. Written neighbor permission is filed with the Neighborhood Services Department and expires after five years (§ 8-9). The code does not require a flyway barrier or requeening.

    Phoenix ordinance

    Tucson

    Hive Limits

    No more than one hive (or other structure containing bees) per 2,500 square feet of lot area, in all zones except SR and UR, which are not subject to this density limit.

    Setbacks

    No fixed setback. If bees are kept within 30 feet of any exterior lot line, a barrier at least 5 feet tall (plants, hedge, or constructed material) is required, extending at least 30 feet beyond the apiary in both directions.

    Notes

    Tucson City Code § 11-3 (Apiaries) also requires fresh, clean water on the premises. The code still says beekeepers must register with the 'Arizona Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture,' an agency that no longer exists; Arizona has no state bee registration today. Violations are civil infractions.

    Tucson ordinance

    Mesa

    Hive Limits

    Apiaries are limited to agricultural or rural areas zoned AG or R1-43 (Mesa City Code § 8-6-21(M)). Beekeeping is not permitted on standard single-family lots in other residential zones.

    Setbacks

    In the AG district, buildings or hives for apiaries may not be closer than 75 feet to any neighboring residence (Mesa Zoning Ordinance, Title 11, Article 2).

    Notes

    The Mesa zoning ordinance lists apiaries as a use permitted by right in the AG district. Mesa's residential zones now use 'RS' names (for example, RS-43), while § 8-6-21(M) still refers to R1-43, so confirm with Mesa Development Services. Mesa handles feral or nuisance bee colonies as a public health matter.

    Mesa ordinance

    Key Laws & Statutes

    Notification by beekeepers of bees located in a commercial agricultural area

    A.R.S. § 3-367.02

    Before locating bees on an apiary site, the owner must get landowner or lessee permission and notify, in writing, commercial agricultural operators on whose land the bees may forage (address, phone, hive location within a quarter section, and dates). Operators who receive notice must tell the beekeeper before applying bee-sensitive pesticides. Failure to give notice is prima facie evidence that no pesticide-related bee loss occurred.

    Cottage food products

    A.R.S. §§ 36-931, 36-932; A.R.S. § 36-136

    Allows foods prepared in a registered home kitchen, including honey, to be sold without a food establishment permit. Requires registration with the Arizona Department of Health Services (renewed every three years), food handler certification, and specific labeling.

    Selling Honey in Arizona

    Honey can be sold from home under Arizona's cottage food law (A.R.S. §§ 36-931 and 36-932), which covers foods prepared in a home kitchen by a person registered with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The preparer must complete an accredited food handler course, register online with ADHS, and renew the registration every three years. Each package must be labeled with the preparer's name and registration number, all ingredients, the production date, and this statement: 'This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection.' No sales cap is stated in the statute. Check with ADHS for current fees.

    Official Arizona guidance
    Price your honey for ArizonaList your honey free

    Arizona Beekeeping Association

    Arizona Apicultural Society

    The Arizona Apicultural Society, founded in 1984 as the Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona and renamed in 2024, is a Phoenix-area beekeeping club serving hobbyists, sideliners, and commercial beekeepers. It meets monthly from September to June at the Valley Garden Center in Phoenix. Other regional groups include the Southern Arizona Beekeepers Association in Tucson.

    Visit Arizona Apicultural Society

    Climate & Regional Considerations

    Arizona ranges from low Sonoran Desert to high-elevation pine forest, and beekeeping strategy varies with elevation. In Phoenix, Tucson, and other low-desert areas, the biggest challenges are extreme summer heat, summer dearth, and Africanized genetics. Provide shade, ventilation, and a permanent water source. Colonies often go through a summer dearth and should be watched for robbing and starvation. At higher elevations such as Flagstaff and the White Mountains, winters are cold and colonies need insulation and adequate stores, as in northern states. Varroa mites are present statewide, and requeening with gentle stock helps manage Africanized traits.

    See the month-by-month Arizona beekeeping calendar

    Tips for Arizona Beekeepers

    • Treat any feral swarm or unmanaged colony in Arizona as potentially Africanized. Buy queens from reputable breeders and requeen at the first sign of defensive behavior.
    • Provide a reliable water source close to your hives. In desert heat, bees need water for cooling, and a nearby source keeps them away from neighbors' pools and faucets. Phoenix and Tucson both require water on site.
    • Shade hives from direct afternoon sun in summer with shade cloth, a ramada, or tree cover, and make sure the hives have good ventilation.
    • Inspect in the early morning during summer. Extreme afternoon heat stresses both colonies and beekeepers and can make bees more defensive.
    • If your bees may forage on commercial farmland, send the written notice required by A.R.S. § 3-367.02 so growers warn you before spraying bee-toxic pesticides.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Sources & Official References

    Last checked against these sources on . This page summarizes Arizona law for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm with AZDA 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

    Arizona Beekeeping Calendar

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

    View Arizona Calendar

    Beekeeping Cost Calculator

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

    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 Arizona expects before you start.

    Read the Guide

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