If you search for beekeeping laws by ZIP code, the safest answer is also the most important: a ZIP code alone cannot tell you which beekeeping laws apply.

ZIP codes organize mail delivery. Beekeeping rules usually follow governmental and property boundaries - such as a state, county, incorporated city, zoning district, parcel, lease, or condominium - not a postal route. The same ZIP code can include addresses in different legal jurisdictions.

This guide gives you a reliable U.S. address-based workflow. It does not pretend that a five-digit code is a legal lookup tool, and it does not replace confirmation from the government agencies responsible for your property.

Quick answer: Start with your complete street address. Confirm the postal address, identify the legal city and county, check state apiary rules, search the official local code and zoning map, review property restrictions, and get unclear requirements confirmed in writing.

Source-linked research aid

Compare supported city beekeeping rules

Filter the reviewed records, then open the city guide and official source. “Verify locally” means the reviewed source did not answer that field; it is not permission.

Status badges use a 180-day recheck interval and disclose known source conflicts.

City

State

Regulation type

Showing 14 supported cities.

Comparison of supported U.S. city beekeeping regulations
City	Registration / permit	Hive and lot limits	Setback / flyway	Water / notice	Sources and full fields
Austin, TX Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: No city registration identified; check current Texas Apiary Inspection Service requirements Permit: No standard city apiary permit identified	Hives: 2 to 8 colonies by tract size; unlimited only when every hive is at least 200 ft from every property line Lot: Maximum rises at 1/4-, 1/2-, and 1-acre thresholds	Setback: At least 10 ft from a property line Flyway: 6-ft barrier when a colony is within 25 ft of a property line, with a limited undeveloped-property exception	Water: Provide water that prevents bees congregating at human, pet, or bird water sources Notice: No city notice requirement identified; nuisance standards apply	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify zoning, structure, access, fire safety, and property permission locally Disease: Texas Apiary Inspection Service administers state bee-health and movement rules Honey sales: Verify Texas food, labeling, and local business requirements Authority: Austin Public Health and Texas Apiary Inspection Service Notes: Confirm the current code and parcel boundaries before relying on acreage or distances.
Boston, MA Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: City registration required; the official city page lists a one-time $25 fee Permit: Registration/licensing process administered by Inspectional Services	Hives: Maximum 3 hives per lot or roof for personal use Lot: Verify locally	Setback: Current ordinance includes height and setback parameters; confirm the exact configuration with Inspectional Services Flyway: Verify the current ordinance and site configuration locally	Water: Best practice; verify any site-specific requirement locally Notice: No citywide notice rule identified in the reviewed city summary	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Up to 3 hives per roof, subject to height, setback, building, access, and property rules Disease: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources administers the state apiary program Honey sales: Personal-use allowance does not establish commercial permission; verify separately Authority: Boston Inspectional Services Department and GrowBoston Notes: Use the current 2024 bulletin and ISD process, not the older section lower on the city page.
Chicago, IL Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: Illinois annual colony registration required; the state service says registration is free Permit: No separate citywide hobby-apiary permit identified; verify zoning for the site	Hives: Up to 5 colonies on a site under the zoning accessory-use definition Lot: Verify parcel zoning and use locally	Setback: No citywide numeric apiary setback identified in the reviewed official sources Flyway: No citywide numeric flyway rule identified; use site-specific risk controls	Water: Responsible-management practice; no citywide numeric rule identified Notice: No citywide notice requirement identified; nuisance and property rules apply	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify zoning, owner approval, structure, roof access, and fire safety locally Disease: Illinois Department of Agriculture administers registration, inspection, and bee-health rules Honey sales: Verify Illinois food, labeling, zoning, and business rules Authority: Chicago planning/zoning and Illinois Department of Agriculture Notes: Do not repeat uncited 10-ft, 25-ft, or 6-ft figures as Chicago law.
Denver, CO Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: No standard city or Colorado hobby-apiary registration identified in the reviewed sources Permit: No permit for the standard allowance; additional animals require zoning review	Hives: 2 hives per residential zone lot under the standard allowance Lot: Limit applies per zone lot; verify zoning and any request above the standard allowance	Setback: Rear one-third of zone lot; at least 5 ft from side and rear lot lines Flyway: Screen hives so bees surmount a 6-ft vegetative or built barrier before leaving the property	Water: Verify locally Notice: No notice rule identified; nuisance and private-property rules apply	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify locally; the standard rule is written for residential zone lots Disease: Verify current Colorado bee-health and movement requirements Honey sales: Standard accessory allowance is for hobby, education, or personal food production; verify sales separately Authority: Denver Community Planning and Development Notes: Confirm the current zoning-code edition and exact zone lot.
Houston, TX Checked 2026-07-26 Current	Registration: Verify current Texas Apiary Inspection Service requirements Permit: No Houston bee-specific hobby permit identified in the reviewed sources	Hives: No citywide numeric hobby-hive limit identified Lot: Verify deed restrictions and property-specific rules	Setback: No citywide bee-specific numeric setback identified Flyway: Verify locally; use a barrier where it reduces face-level traffic	Water: Responsible-management practice; verify any property-specific requirement Notice: No city notice identified; nuisance and deed restrictions can still control the site	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify owner permission, structure, access, and fire safety locally Disease: Texas Apiary Inspection Service administers bee-health and interstate-movement rules Honey sales: Verify Texas cottage-food, labeling, and local business requirements Authority: Houston code offices and Texas Apiary Inspection Service Notes: No conventional zoning does not override deeds, leases, nuisance law, or state rules.
Los Angeles, CA Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: California annual apiary registration through the county agricultural commissioner Permit: Accessory use is zoning-dependent; verify the parcel	Hives: The cited Original and New Zoning Code standards limit hives to 1 per 2,500 sq ft; confirm which code applies to the parcel Lot: The cited allowance requires enough lot area for the 1-per-2,500-sq-ft limit	Setback: Original Code: 5 ft from lot lines and 20 ft from rights-of-way/private streets; New Code: outside frontage yards and at least 5 ft from property lines Flyway: Original Code: 6-ft wall, fence, or hedge, or hive at least 8 ft above adjacent-lot grade; confirm the parcel code	Water: On-site water required under the cited backyard-beekeeping rules Notice: No general pre-installation notice identified in the cited city standards; verify the parcel and property rules	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify zoning, elevation alternative, structure, access, and property permission locally Disease: California and Los Angeles County administer registration, movement, and disease rules Honey sales: Verify California food, labeling, cottage-food, zoning, and business rules Authority: Los Angeles City Planning and Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner Notes: Los Angeles has an Original Zoning Code and a New Zoning Code applied by community-plan area; identify the parcel code before using a setback or barrier rule.
New York City, NY Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: Separate annual NYC and state registration required; new NYC hives within 30 days and annual NYC filing by May 31 Permit: Registration required; no separate citywide hobby-hive permit identified	Hives: No citywide numeric hobby-hive cap identified in the reviewed official sources Lot: Verify property, zoning, lease, co-op, condo, garden, and building rules	Setback: No citywide numeric setback identified; placement must not create an animal nuisance Flyway: No citywide numeric barrier requirement identified	Water: Constant and adequate water source required Notice: No general pre-installation notice identified; nuisance response is required	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify owner/board approval, roof access, structure, fire safety, and nuisance risk Disease: New York State Agriculture and Markets administers bee health and state registration Honey sales: Verify NYC food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: NYC Health and New York State Agriculture and Markets Notes: Report colony-count or location changes to NYC within 10 business days.
Philadelphia, PA Checked 2026-07-26 Current	Registration: Pennsylvania apiary registration required Permit: No citywide hobby-apiary permit identified; verify the parcel and activity locally	Hives: Verify locally Lot: Verify locally	Setback: Verify locally Flyway: Verify locally	Water: Responsible-management practice; verify locally Notice: Verify locally	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify owner approval, structure, access, and fire safety locally Disease: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture administers registration, inspection, and bee-health services Honey sales: Verify Pennsylvania and Philadelphia food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Philadelphia code/zoning offices Notes: No Philadelphia numeric siting rule is asserted without a current city citation.
Phoenix, AZ Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: No city registration identified in Section 8-8; verify state and county requirements Permit: Written adjoining-owner and occupant consent required for a site under 6,000 sq ft	Hives: Maximum 1 hive per 1,700 sq ft of lot area Lot: Under 6,000 sq ft triggers adjoining-property consent	Setback: At least 5 ft from every lot boundary Flyway: No citywide flyway requirement identified in Section 8-8	Water: Constant and easily accessible water of sufficient quantity required Notice: Written adjoining-owner and occupant consent required for lots under 6,000 sq ft	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify locally Disease: Verify current Arizona bee-health and movement requirements Honey sales: Verify Arizona food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: City of Phoenix and county/state authorities Notes: Online code is current through Ordinance G-7524; check for later ordinances.
Portland, OR Checked 2026-08-09 Source conflict	Registration: Oregon Department of Agriculture annual registration is required for 5 or more colonies Permit: No city permit required when standards are met	Hives: 4 hives on any lot; 6 on lots of at least 10,000 sq ft Lot: 10,000 sq ft threshold for 5th and 6th hives	Setback: At least 3 ft from lot lines and 15 ft from public walkways, streets, and outdoor-use areas Flyway: Source conflict: code allows a 6-ft barrier, hive elevation of 10 ft, or an existing barrier; the city guide separately mentions 10 ft from a property line	Water: On-site source March through October, generally within 15 ft of hives and toward the property interior Notice: Notify neighbors within 150 ft before installing hives	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify building, access, property, and barrier/setback application locally Disease: Comply with Oregon registration and any applicable state movement or bee-health instructions Honey sales: Verify Oregon food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: City of Portland and Oregon Department of Agriculture Notes: Confirm the flyway alternative with Portland BPS before installation because the code and city web guide differ.
San Diego, CA Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: Register with the county agricultural commissioner within 30 days Permit: No city beekeeping permit required for the cited allowance	Hives: City residential allowance addresses 1 or 2 hives; 3+ hives face much larger distance rules Lot: Zoning setbacks for the exact parcel still apply	Setback: For 1 or 2 hives, outside all zone setbacks or 15 ft from property line and 20 ft from public right-of-way, whichever is greater Flyway: 6-ft barrier unless hive is at least 8 ft above ground	Water: Verify current county/city requirement and maintain dependable on-site water Notice: No general notice rule identified on the city summary; nuisance and property rules apply	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Elevation can affect barrier rules; structure, access, zoning, and permission still require review Disease: County registration and California rules apply; city rules require requeening every 2 years Honey sales: Verify California and San Diego food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: City of San Diego and county agricultural commissioner Notes: Use the zoning map or Development Services for the parcel-specific setback.
San Francisco, CA Checked 2026-07-22 Current	Registration: California annual apiary-location and colony-count registration required Permit: No separate citywide hobby-apiary permit identified; confirm with the Agricultural Program	Hives: No citywide numeric hobby-hive limit identified in the reviewed official sources Lot: Verify property and zoning locally	Setback: No citywide numeric apiary setback identified in the reviewed official sources Flyway: No citywide numeric flyway rule identified	Water: Responsible-management practice; verify locally Notice: No citywide pre-installation notice rule identified	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify permission, structure, access, fire safety, and site-specific filing locally Disease: California and the local Agricultural Program administer registration and bee-health requirements Honey sales: Verify California and San Francisco food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: San Francisco Agricultural Program and California Department of Food and Agriculture Notes: Do not treat association guidance as a citywide legal requirement.
Seattle, WA Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: Washington State Department of Agriculture apiary registration required Permit: No separate city hobby-apiary permit identified for the standard accessory use	Hives: Maximum 4 hives on lots under 10,000 sq ft Lot: 10,000 sq ft threshold affects the standard four-hive cap	Setback: 25 ft from lot lines unless the elevation or barrier exception is met Flyway: Exception may use elevation of at least 8 ft or a 6-ft fence/hedge meeting the code length requirement	Water: Responsible-management practice; verify any separate requirement locally Notice: No citywide notice rule identified; nuisance and property rules apply	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Elevation affects the setback exception; structure, access, fire safety, and permission still require review Disease: Washington State Department of Agriculture administers apiary registration and laws Honey sales: Verify Washington food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: Seattle construction/code officials and Washington State Department of Agriculture Notes: Confirm current SMC 23.42.052 text and lot measurement before using an exception.
Washington, DC Checked 2026-08-09 Current	Registration: Register every colony with DOEE within 30 days of establishment Permit: DOEE permit required before transporting colonies, bees on comb, used comb, used hives, or used apiary appliances into or out of DC	Hives: Maximum 4 hives per property unless property exceeds 1/4 acre or DOEE gives permission Lot: Over 1/4 acre can change the four-hive limit	Setback: At least 15 ft from a property line unless another regulatory condition is met Flyway: Verify the regulation-specific setback alternatives with DOEE	Water: Convenient, adequate, and constant water required Notice: No general notice rule identified; beekeeper must remediate swarms and nuisance conditions	Official source Secondary official source All reviewed fields Rooftop: Verify DOEE rules, structure, access, fire safety, and property permission locally Disease: DOEE registration, removable-comb, movement, and prohibited-bee rules apply Honey sales: Verify DC food, labeling, zoning, and business requirements Authority: DC Department of Energy and Environment Notes: Ask DOEE to confirm any setback exception or transport plan before acting.

How This Comparison Is Maintained

Each record links to a government code, agency page, or both. We record only what the reviewed official material supports, include the last verification date, and use Verify locally when a source is silent or the answer depends on a parcel, zoning district, building, or activity.

Every record should be rechecked within 180 days. The table marks records as current, review due, stale, or source conflict. A source-conflict badge means two current official materials differ; readers should open both and obtain written agency confirmation before acting.

To request a correction, send the exact city, field, official source URL, code section, and effective date through our contact page. We review primary government sources before changing a record. A third-party blog or an uncited statement is not enough to overwrite an official source.

Why a ZIP Code Is Not a Beekeeping Jurisdiction

The U.S. Postal Service explains that ZIP codes do not necessarily follow city or municipal boundaries. They reflect the post offices, delivery units, and carrier routes responsible for mail delivery. Even the city name in a mailing address may differ from the municipality where the property is physically located.

The Census Bureau makes the distinction equally clear: a USPS “postal city” can extend into other cities or unincorporated county land. Its USPS city-versus-geography explanation uses Waterloo, Iowa, as an example of postal ZIP codes that do not match the legal city boundary.

That creates three common traps:

One ZIP code, multiple municipalities. Two nearby homes can share a ZIP code but be governed by different city or county rules.
A mailing city is not always a legal city. An address can use a familiar city name while physically sitting in an unincorporated area.
A ZIP map may show a ZCTA, not a USPS boundary. Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are generalized statistical areas, not legal jurisdictions or exact mail-delivery boundaries.

Use a ZIP code to confirm an address - not to decide whether a hive is legal.

How to Find Beekeeping Laws for Your Address

Step 1: Confirm the Complete Postal Address

Open the official USPS ZIP Code Lookup and search by street address. Record the standardized address and five-digit ZIP code.

This step catches misspellings and confirms the postal information, but it does not establish the city, county, zoning district, or agencies with legal authority over the property.

If you only have a ZIP code and no installation address, stop here. You do not yet have enough information to determine the applicable beekeeping rules.

Step 2: Identify the Legal City, County, and Subdivision

Use the Census Bureau’s Search by Address instructions or its Census Geocoder. Enter the complete address and review these results:

Place: the incorporated city, town, village, or census-designated place associated with the address
County: the county or county-equivalent containing the address
County subdivision: relevant in states that use towns, townships, or similar divisions
State: the state whose apiary and agriculture laws apply

The Census Geocoder uses address ranges and may return an interpolated location. Treat it as a jurisdiction-finding aid, not a legal opinion. Confirm incorporated or unincorporated status with the city or county planning department, assessor, parcel viewer, or official zoning map.

Step 3: Check State Apiary and Registration Rules

State requirements can apply even when a city permits beekeeping. The USDA National Agricultural Library advises beekeepers to contact their state department of agriculture and local government about apiary laws, zoning, permits, registration, and inspections.

On the official state website, search for:

apiary registration
beekeeper registration
apiary inspection
bees and apiaries act
moving honey bee colonies
reportable bee disease

Check who must register, whether registration renews, whether every apiary location must be reported, and whether moving bees across county or state lines triggers an additional rule. Requirements vary by state; do not copy the process from another jurisdiction.

If you cannot locate the correct agency, use the USAGov state and local government directory rather than relying on an unofficial directory.

Step 4: Search the Official City or County Code

Next, search the official municipal or county website, code library, zoning map, and health or animal-control pages. Try combinations such as:

[city or county] apiary code
[city or county] beekeeping ordinance
[city or county] honey bees zoning
[city or county] livestock accessory use
[city or county] nuisance bees
[address] zoning map

Do not stop when a code search returns no result for “beekeeping.” A hive may be regulated under apiary, animals, agriculture, accessory use, urban farming, nuisance, or public health.

Official requirements also take different forms. New York City handles beekeeping registration through its Health Department, while Chicago defines an apiary and colony allowance in its zoning ordinance. A generic ZIP-code map cannot capture those agency and code differences.

When reading a code page, record:

The code or ordinance section number
The current or effective date shown by the publisher
Which agency administers the rule
Whether the rule applies to all properties or only certain zones and lot sizes
Any referenced definitions, exceptions, permits, or separate state requirements

Step 5: Check the Property, Building, and Intended Use

Government permission is only one layer. Before placing a hive, review anything that controls the specific property:

Lease and landlord approval
HOA or condominium declaration and rules
Deed restrictions or covenants
Roof-access, fire-safety, and structural requirements
Community-garden or public-land agreement
Business, food-processing, labeling, or sales rules if you will sell honey
Insurance exclusions and liability conditions

For a rooftop, follow the safety and engineering checks in our rooftop beehive setup guide. If liability coverage is unclear, use our guide to homeowners insurance and beehives as a question list for your insurer - not as a substitute for your policy.

Step 6: Ask for Confirmation and Keep a Compliance Record

If the code is silent, contradictory, or unclear, contact the city or county planning and zoning office. Depending on the location, you may also need health, animal control, code enforcement, building, fire, or agriculture officials.

Ask a specific address-based question:

“I plan to keep [number] honey bee colonies at [full address and parcel number]. Is this property inside the city or unincorporated county, is an apiary allowed in this zoning district, and do I need registration, a permit, setbacks, or a flyway barrier?”

Save the response with the official’s name, department, date, and any linked code sections. Keep copies of registrations, permits, approvals, and renewal dates with your hive records.

Rules to Verify Before Installing a Hive

Use this checklist even if an article or local beekeeper says hives are allowed:

Topic	Questions to answer for the exact address
Legal jurisdiction	Is the property inside an incorporated city, in a township, on tribal land, or in an unincorporated county area?
State registration	Must the beekeeper or each apiary location be registered? Is renewal required?
Zoning	Is an apiary permitted, accessory, conditional, or prohibited in the parcel’s zoning district?
Colony limit	Is the limit based on property, lot size, acreage, zoning use, or hive type?
Setbacks	How far must hives be from property lines, sidewalks, homes, schools, or public areas?
Flyway barrier	Is a fence, hedge, or screen required, and what height and length must it have?
Water	Must a continuous on-site water source be provided?
Nuisance and swarms	What conduct can trigger a complaint, citation, relocation, or removal order?
Temperament and disease	Are aggressive colonies, abandoned equipment, inspection, or disease reporting addressed?
Property approval	Does a lease, HOA, condominium, deed, garden, or rooftop agreement restrict hives?
Commercial activity	Do honey sales, classes, pollination services, or home-business activity require additional approval?

Rules can overlap. A city may allow a hive while the state requires registration, the zoning district limits its placement, and a lease prohibits it.

Use Our City Guides as a Starting Point

Our U.S. city beekeeping laws directory summarizes supported jurisdictions and links to primary sources. Choose the guide for the legal jurisdiction you verified, not merely the city printed in the mailing address.

Texas

Start with the Texas state apiary rules, then use our Dallas beekeeping laws guide for the city’s address-specific zoning workflow, HOA checks, and Dallas County 1-D-1 appraisal cautions. The Dallas guide also identifies numerical rules that circulate online but are not supported by the city’s current published code.

These summaries are research aids, not approvals for an address. The current official code, agency instructions, and written property approvals control.

What If Your ZIP Code Crosses a Boundary?

Do not average or combine the rules from both sides of the boundary. Determine where the hive will physically sit.

If the property is inside an incorporated city, check city and state requirements and confirm whether county rules also apply.
If it is outside the city in an unincorporated area, start with county zoning and the state agriculture department.
If a parcel touches a boundary, use the parcel map and ask the planning office to confirm jurisdiction.
If the hive will be on public, tribal, institutional, or community-garden land, ask the land manager which additional authority applies.

A nearby beekeeper with the same ZIP code may legally face different rules. Their experience is useful context, but it is not proof for your address.

Red Flags in Online ZIP-Code Law Finders

Treat a third-party map or automated answer cautiously when it:

Assumes a ZIP code belongs to one city
Does not ask for a street address or parcel
Omits state registration and county rules
Gives a yes/no answer without a code section and effective date
Confuses a Census ZCTA with a legal boundary
Uses a blog as its only source
Does not explain zoning, private-property rules, or who to contact

A useful tool should show its sources and limitations. It should never present a postal ZIP code as a permit.

Before You Buy Bees: Final Checklist

Once the legal work is complete, use our urban beekeeping guide to plan the site, water, flight path, and neighbor communication. Active city swarm prevention and a plan for responding to neighbor concerns are essential parts of remaining compliant after installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find beekeeping laws with only a ZIP code?

No. A ZIP code is a mail-delivery identifier and may cross city, town, county, or unincorporated-area boundaries. Use the complete installation address to identify the governing jurisdictions.

Do all addresses in the same ZIP code follow the same beekeeping rules?

Not necessarily. Two addresses in one ZIP code can fall in different municipalities or zoning districts. Leases, HOAs, condominium rules, and other property restrictions can also differ.

Which government office should I contact about a beehive?

Start with city or county planning and zoning, then check the state department of agriculture. Health, animal control, code enforcement, building, or fire officials may administer additional requirements.

If the question is whether a nuisance colony may be destroyed, start with our guide to whether it is illegal to kill honey bees, then verify its general guidance with those agencies for the exact location.

Can an HOA or landlord restrict hives if the city allows them?

A lease, condominium declaration, HOA rule, deed restriction, or building policy may impose separate limits. Enforceability varies, so read the governing documents and obtain qualified local advice if the terms conflict.

How often should I recheck local beekeeping laws?

Recheck before installing or moving a hive, before adding colonies, and at least annually before each beekeeping season. Verify again when registration renews, your property status changes, or an agency updates its code.

Legal note: This educational guide and comparison data were source-checked on August 9, 2026. It is not legal advice and cannot approve a hive location. Regulations and agency procedures change; verify the current official sources for the exact address before acting.

Beekeeping Laws by ZIP Code: Find Your Local Rules