Beekeeping regulations

Beekeeping Laws & Regulations in Florida (2026)

Florida · 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.

Florida runs one of the strictest apiary programs in the country. Registration is mandatory for every beekeeper — even a single backyard hive — and the state actively inspects colonies.

Registration is mandatory

Under Florida Statute Chapter 586, every person who keeps bees must register each apiary with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Plant Industry. There's no exemption for small or backyard operations. The fee is modest — about $10 per apiary location per year — and registration is renewed annually. Unregistered apiaries are subject to inspection and enforcement, and violations are a misdemeanor.

Placement: the flyway-barrier rule

On land that isn't classified as agricultural, FDACS best-management requirements apply. Notably, when a colony sits within 15 feet of a property line, the beekeeper must establish a flyway barrier to lift the bees' flight path. There are also colony-density limits on non-agricultural land.

Equipment, inspections and disease

Hives must have movable frames.
FDACS inspects for American foulbrood, small hive beetle, varroa and Africanized bees; colonies with AFB may be ordered destroyed.
Migratory beekeepers must notify the Division before moving colonies into Florida.

Local rules still apply

FDACS registration does not override local zoning. Municipalities set their own rules on hive placement and distances from property lines, so check your city or county ordinance in addition to registering with the state.

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.