All State Regulations

    Beekeeping Laws & Regulations in California

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

    Last updated: · Verified against official sources

    Yes — California requires beekeepers to register their hives with the CDFA.

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

    Last updated

    Key Facts - California Beekeeping

    Registration Required

    Yes - through CDFA

    Residential Hive Limits

    No statewide residential hive limit.

    State Agency

    California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and County Agricultural Commissioners

    State Registration Requirements

    Under Food and Agricultural Code 29040, everyone who owns or possesses an apiary in California must register the number of colonies and the location of each apiary on January 1 each year, or within 30 days of acquiring bees or moving them into the state. Hobbyists are included, with no exemption for small hive counts. Registration is done online through CDFA's BeeWhere system and is tied to the County Agricultural Commissioner in the county where the bees are kept. The annual assessment is due January 1; per BeeWhere, a 50% penalty applies if it is unpaid after January 31. Some counties, notably Los Angeles County, also require their own county forms, mailed with a copy of the BeeWhere certificate. Keep your apiary locations current in BeeWhere when you move colonies.

    Registration Fees

    Annual assessment under 3 CCR 2951 (effective March 20, 2025): $10 for 1–9 colonies, $100 for 10–49, $250 for 50 or more, and a flat $250 for brokers. The fee is based on the maximum number of colonies registered in the previous year. Some counties waive the fee for hobbyists with fewer than 10 colonies.

    Register with CDFA

    Residential Beekeeping Rules

    Hive Limits - Residential

    No statewide residential hive limit. Cities and counties set their own rules; for example, Los Angeles allows one hive per 2,500 sq ft of lot area in single-family zones and San Diego allows two hives at single-family homes.

    Hive Limits - Rural / Agricultural

    No statewide limit on agricultural or rural properties. County zoning may still regulate large apiaries.

    Setback Requirements

    No statewide setback requirement. Setbacks and barrier rules come from city and county ordinances. Los Angeles requires 5 feet from lot lines and 20 feet from streets, and San Diego requires 15 feet from property lines and 20 feet from the public right-of-way for one or two hives. Many local codes require a 6-foot wall, fence, or hedge between hives and neighbors.

    City-Specific Regulations

    Los Angeles

    Hive Limits

    Allowed as an accessory use in single-family residential zones (RA, RE, RS, R1). One hive per 2,500 square feet of lot area.

    Setbacks

    Hives must be at least 5 feet from the front, side, and rear lot lines and at least 20 feet from public rights-of-way or private streets, and may not sit in the required front yard. A 6-foot wall, fence, or hedge is required between hives and adjacent lots, unless the hives are at least 8 feet above the ground level of the adjacent lot.

    Notes

    Ordinance 183,920 was adopted in 2015 and took effect December 6, 2015 (LAMC 12.07 A.13 and parallel zone sections). Hive entrances must face away from, or parallel to, the nearest lot line adjacent to another lot, and a water source must be provided at all times. The ordinance requires the beekeeper to be registered with the LA County Agricultural Commissioner. In practice that means two steps: register online in BeeWhere (state fee: $10 for 1–9 colonies), then mail LA County's Annual Apiary Registration Form and Apiary Owner and Property Owner Agreement Form, with a copy of the BeeWhere certificate, to LA County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures, Attn: Apiary Program, 12300 Lower Azusa Road, Arcadia, CA 91006-5872. Forms are linked from acwm.lacounty.gov.

    Los Angeles ordinance

    San Francisco

    Hive Limits

    No numeric hive limit was found in San Francisco's codes. Honey bee hives regulated under the state Food and Agricultural Code (§ 29000 et seq.) are specifically excluded from the Health Code's list of noxious-insect nuisances, and the city's 2011 urban agriculture zoning allows small-scale 'Neighborhood Agriculture' in all zoning districts.

    Setbacks

    No city-mandated setback or flyway-barrier distance was found. Hives must not become a nuisance under state law, so placing hives away from neighbors and using a fence or hedge to raise flight paths is recommended practice rather than a codified requirement.

    Notes

    San Francisco does not require a city beekeeping permit. Beekeepers must still register annually through CDFA's BeeWhere system with the San Francisco Agricultural Commissioner. The San Francisco Beekeepers Association publishes a voluntary code of conduct covering hive placement and neighbor relations. Landlord or HOA rules may still restrict hives.

    San Francisco ordinance

    San Diego

    Hive Limits

    Two beehives allowed at single-family homes, community gardens, and retail farms without a city permit.

    Setbacks

    An apiary of one or two hives must be outside all zone setbacks, or at least 15 feet from the property line and 20 feet from the public right-of-way. An apiary of three or more hives must be at least 600 feet from any building used as a residence and 100 feet from the public right-of-way.

    Notes

    The San Diego Municipal Code was amended in 2012 (Chapter 4, Article 4, Division 4). One- or two-hive apiaries must be in a secured area, not visible from the public right-of-way, and surrounded by a 6-foot barrier unless the hive is at least 8 feet above the ground. Hives must be re-queened every two years. Register the apiary with the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner (via BeeWhere) within 30 days.

    San Diego ordinance

    Key Laws & Statutes

    California Food and Agricultural Code, Division 13, Chapter 1 - Bees

    Cal. Food & Agric. Code §§ 29000–29322 (registration at §§ 29040–29057)

    California's main apiary statute. Covers apiary assessments, annual registration and identification of apiaries (§ 29040: register by January 1 or within 30 days of acquiring bees), intrastate movement, pesticide notification, quarantine, importation, sanitation, inspection by County Agricultural Commissioners, penalties, and Africanized honey bees. Division 13, Chapter 2 (§§ 29401 and following) separately regulates honey standards and labeling.

    Apiary Registration Assessment Fee

    Cal. Code Regs. tit. 3, § 2951

    Sets the annual apiary registration assessment, amended effective March 20, 2025: $10 for 1–9 colonies, $100 for 10–49, $250 for 50 or more, and $250 for brokers. It replaced the former 15-cents-per-colony assessment. The fee is due January 1 from anyone who kept an apiary during the previous 12 months.

    Selling Honey in California

    In California, honey sold to the public from a home is handled as a cottage food. Pure honey with no added ingredients is on the approved cottage food list. Before selling, you need a Class A registration (direct sales to consumers, such as from home, at events, or at farm stands and certified farmers' markets) or a Class B permit (which also allows sales through stores and restaurants), both issued by your county environmental health agency. Gross annual sales are capped: Class B is $150,000, the Class A cap is lower, and the caps are adjusted periodically, so check your county for current amounts. Labels must say "Made in a Home Kitchen" in 12-point type and include the product name, the operation's name and address, the registration or permit number (plus the issuing county for Class B), ingredients, net quantity in English and metric units, and any allergens. Cottage food products may be sold only within California. Your apiary must also be registered through BeeWhere.

    Official California guidance
    Price your honey for CaliforniaList your honey free

    California Beekeeping Association

    California State Beekeepers Association

    The California State Beekeepers Association (CSBA) represents beekeepers across California, with a strong focus on commercial and professionally managed operations. CSBA advocates on issues such as hive theft, pesticide safety, pests and disease, regulation, and bee nutrition, publishes resources including guidance on apiary registration fees, and holds an annual convention.

    Visit California State Beekeepers Association

    Climate & Regional Considerations

    California's diverse climate zones, from coastal fog belts to inland deserts to mountain regions, mean beekeeping practices vary widely within the state. Coastal areas offer moderate year-round foraging but can be cool and damp. The Central Valley provides abundant agricultural forage during bloom but has very hot summers. Southern California's Mediterranean climate allows near year-round beekeeping, though drought is a constant concern. Wildfire season, typically late summer through fall, poses a real threat to apiaries in foothill and wildland-urban interface areas. Watch air quality during fire events and make sure colonies have water and shade.

    See the month-by-month California beekeeping calendar

    Tips for California Beekeepers

    • Register every apiary in BeeWhere by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of getting bees. Hobbyists are not exempt, and a 50% penalty applies if the assessment is unpaid after January 31.
    • California's almond bloom (February–March) draws huge numbers of migratory commercial colonies into the Central Valley each year, which can affect disease and pest pressure nearby.
    • Drought can severely reduce nectar availability. Be prepared to feed colonies during dry periods, especially in Southern California and inland areas.
    • Varroa mite management is critical year-round, because California's mild climate lets many colonies raise brood with little or no winter break, allowing mite populations to keep growing.
    • Check whether your county requires anything beyond BeeWhere. Los Angeles County, for example, requires its own mailed registration forms, and some counties waive the state fee for hobbyists with fewer than 10 colonies.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Sources & Official References

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

    California Beekeeping Calendar

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

    View California Calendar

    Beekeeping Cost Calculator

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

    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 California expects before you start.

    Read the Guide

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