Colorado Beekeeping Laws: Hive Equipment & Bee Imports
By UrbanBee Editorial TeamSources checked Oct 3, 2026
⚠️ Not Legal Advice: Summaries for educational purposes only. Verify with official Colorado authorities.
Colorado requires movable-comb hives and regulates incoming bees on comb and used beekeeping equipment. Section 35-25-108 of the Colorado Bee Act specifies an origin health certificate, an entry permit and arrival notification for those covered movements.
Before buying a nuc or used equipment outside Colorado, ask the Department of Agriculture how to satisfy the current shipment process. Then confirm local site permission; use the Denver beekeeping guide for a property inside Denver.
Colorado Shipment and Property Checks
| Check | State-law distinction | Planning action |
|---|---|---|
| Hive design | Movable combs are required | Choose equipment that allows inspection |
| Bees on comb entering Colorado | Origin disease-freedom certificate and entry permit | Arrange paperwork before collection |
| Used equipment entering Colorado | Also covered by Section 35-25-108 | Describe the equipment to the program |
| Requested interstate inspection | Requester bears the inspection costs | Ask about availability and an estimate |
| Residential location | Local land-use question | Check the parcel and property agreements |
The equipment and import provisions are in Section 35-25-108; requested interstate-inspection costs are addressed in Section 35-25-107.
Use the Bee Act’s Actual Scope
Colorado’s statute is not a single backyard placement ordinance. A requirement for inspectable comb does not establish a statewide number of hives, setback or barrier height. Those questions need the local code for the installation address.
The 2025 enacted update revised language in agricultural laws. Read the consolidated article rather than treating an old excerpt or a proposed bill as the entire current framework. Obtain agency instructions where the statutory requirement and the practical filing route need to be connected.
Plan a Covered Purchase Before Pickup
Tell the program whether the shipment includes queens, packages, nucs containing brood frames, full colonies or used equipment. The statutory wording about bees on comb matters; do not assume a process for one shipment type automatically answers another.
Keep the origin certificate, permit, destination county and arrival record with the seller’s invoice. Confirm whether an altered delivery date or destination requires updated documents. A bill of sale establishes the purchase, but it is not itself an official health certificate.
For used comb, ask about its history and condition before committing to transport. If disease is suspected after installation, pause transfers between colonies and seek an inspector’s direction. The foulbrood testing guide can help organize the observations.
Check the Colorado Address
Use the address-level legal checklist to determine whether city or unincorporated county rules apply. Ask for the code governing apiary use, permits, colony numbers, setbacks, barriers, water and nuisance enforcement.
Prepare a site drawing showing property lines, entrances and walking routes. Obtain written permission for rented or shared land. Discuss inspection access and removal responsibility before placing hives, and review food requirements separately if you intend to sell honey.
Legal and safety alert: Confirm the current agency process before a covered import. State bee-health paperwork does not approve a residential site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colorado require movable-comb hives?
Yes. Colorado Revised Statutes 35-25-108 requires beehives to be equipped with movable combs.
Does a Colorado bee-entry permit approve a Denver hive site?
No. Entry paperwork concerns the shipment. Denver’s local siting rules and the property’s permission need separate checks.