Beekeeping regulations

Beekeeping Laws & Regulations in California (2026)

California · Last reviewed June 2026

Not legal advice. Beekeeping rules change and vary by state, county and even city — and local zoning or HOA rules can be stricter than state law. Treat this page as a starting point, and always confirm the current requirements with the official source linked below and your local authority before you keep bees.

California requires every beekeeper to register annually through the BeeWhere system. Registration is mandatory for everyone — including a single backyard hive — and it also opts you into important pesticide-spray protections.

Registration is mandatory — through BeeWhere

California Food & Agricultural Code §29040/§29043 requires everyone who owns or possesses an apiary to register the number of colonies and each location with their local County Agricultural Commissioner. This is now done online through BeeWhere (beewhere.calagpermits.org), by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of acquiring bees.

Fees (2026)

Apiary fees resumed in 2026: roughly $10 for 1–9 colonies (waived in many counties for hobbyists), $100 for 10–49, and $250 for 50+. Several counties continue to waive the small-scale fee.

Hive ID, movement and pesticide protection

Hives must display the owner's name, address and phone.
Notify the County Agricultural Commissioner when you move bees between counties (within 72 hours).
Registering opts you into California's strong pesticide-notification system: applicators must check for hives within one mile and give 48 hours' notice before applying bee-toxic products to blooming crops.

Local rules still apply

City and county ordinances add their own setbacks, hive-count limits and flyway-barrier requirements — and they vary widely even between neighbouring cities. Check your local zoning office as well.

Official sources — check these for current rules:

Log it once, in the apiary

HiveDash turns every inspection into a record you can actually use — eggs, brood, stores, mite counts, all in one tap.

Open HiveDash

Information compiled from official state sources and current as of June 2026. Regulations change — verify with the official links above. HiveDash is a record-keeping tool, not a legal or compliance service.