Apiary Registration
KEEPING BEES IN THE UNITED STATES: Registration varies between states. Contact your state apiarist for the regulations in your state. State Apiarist Directory: https://www.losangelescountybeekeepers.com/apiarist-directory-by-state/
REGISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA: In accordance with Section 29043 of the California Food and Agricultural Code, you are required to register your apiary with the Agricultural Commissioner of the County in which your bees are kept. Persons registering their apiary for 2020 must do so before December 31, 2019, or when your apiary first enters the county. Migratory beekeepers should list specific months of activity in the county.
There are many reasons to make sure your bees are "on the books." Your County Agricultural Commissioner can be of assistance in:
dealing with neighbors and local regulatory agencies
notifications about local pesticide/herbicide applications
referrals for swarm captures (experienced beekeepers)
California Leglisative Information Regarding Keeping Bees in California:
CDFA Laws Pertaining to Bee Management & Honey Production
California Legislation regarding Africanized Honey Bees:
7/31/2017 California Legislative Information re Africanized Honey Bees. This bill would provide that a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, establish procedures for the abatement of a hive or comparable apparatus where Africanized or overly defensive honey bees are present. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB861
REGISTRATION IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES: There are over 80 incorporated cities in Los Angeles County. They have different ordinances, regulations, and rules. Make sure you check with the city where you will be keeping your hive(s) to insure you are in compliance.
County of Los Angeles
Department of Agricultural/Weights and Measures
Apiary / AHB / Haz Mat Program
Pesticide Regulation Division
12300 Lower Azusa Road
Arcadia, CA 91006
Tel: (626) 459-8894
Fax: (626) 443-6652
http://acwm.lacounty.gov/
Noriel Reyes, Apiary Inspector III
Apiary /AHB/ Haz Mat Program
email: NReyes@acwm.lacounty.gov
In accordance with Section 29043 of the California Food and Agricultural Code, you are required to register your apiary with the Agricultural Commissioner of the County in which your bees are kept. Persons registering their apiary for 2020 must do so before December 31, 2019, or when your apiary first enters the county. Migratory beekeepers should list specific months of activity in the county. A $10.00 fee will be required per owner at the time of registration.
For beekeepers who are already a 2019 registered beekeeper in LA County, the Department of Agriculture, Apiary Program, did put in your information that you provided to us to the CA BeeWhere Program and CDFA issued you a Beekeeper I.D. number that is already written in the information we sent you.
The following information about BeeWhere Program and the Quick Start Guide will help you to create your own account in the program so that you can add or edit your information. We do encourage you to have an account on the program so that you can make changes to your information any time that there is a need too.
At a nominal fee per beekeeper, regardless of the number of colonies or apiaries, it's well worth it.
2021 Apiary Registration Form (Print out, fill out, return with appropriate fee. Form is revised yearly.)
2021 Apiary Registration Notification (Contains valuable information.)
Registration Forms Pertaining to Pesticide Use
BeeWhere Program Information
BeeWhere Quick Start Guide
Bees in Our Environment Brochure
City of Los Angeles:
The following is some helpful information from the LA County Agriculture Commissioner / Weights & Measures Dept., Bee Program / HazMat
"Most of you know that the City of Los Angeles passed Ordinance 183920 in October of 2015, allowing for more beekeeping in specific residential areas of the city. I was informed that the City of Los Angeles enforces this ordinance through the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), Code Enforcement Bureau, and from my understanding fines are a minimum of about $360. Any violation of the beekeeping ordinance Ordinance 183920 will require payment to cover the cost of sending an inspector out. It is not meant to be a punitive fine, but nevertheless, if you're not in compliance and people complain, you are liable for minimum $360 for an inspection. If you have any questions we ask that they be directed to 311 for those requesting information. ." Please contact the City of Los Angeles for further information regarding beekeeping in the City of Los Angeles.
Pasadena Zoning Determination for Keeping Bees
City of Pasadena's Zoning Administrator, Kelvin Parker, clarifies, for all intents and purposes, the legal status of backyard beekeepers in Pasadena.
Ventura County Registration Form (Ventura County)
County of San Diego
Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures
Jaime Garza | Apiary/Agricultural Standards Inspector
Phone: 858-614-7738 | Email: jaime.garza@sdcounty.ca.gov
Website: www.sdcountybees.org
Apiary Protection Act
If you want more information about the Apiary Protection Act, on the internet, go to Division 13 Bee Management and Honey Production (Sections 290000-29736) of the California Food and Agricultural Code.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N. Street, Room A-370
Sacramento, CA 95814
Title: Associate Agricultural Biologist
Name: Nick Condos
Phone: 916-653-1440
Fax: 916-654 0986
E-mail: ncondos@cdfa.ca.gov
