California Beekeeping Laws 2026: Fees & Checklist

California requires owners, brokers, and people possessing bee colonies to register the colonies for which they are responsible in each county. The registration record, fee status, pesticide-notification request, movement notices, and local land-use rules are separate checks; completing one does not automatically complete the others.

TL;DR: If you own, broker, or possess bee colonies in California, register the colonies for which you are responsible in each county, confirm the statewide fee and current payment status in BeeWhere, separately request pesticide notification if you want advance notice, and follow the applicable movement rules. Before placing hives, confirm current zoning and placement requirements with the relevant county Agricultural Commissioner and city.

This guide uses CDFA's March 20, 2025 final approved apiary regulations, the current Food and Agricultural Code §29040, California's bee-management code, the current CDPR pesticide-notification regulations, and the CDFA county office directory. Check those sources, BeeWhere, and your county again when you act because program workflows and local rules can change.

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2026 California Statewide Apiary Fee Table

CDFA's March 20, 2025 final approved regulations set the statewide annual schedule below. Under 3 CCR §§2950-2951, the fee is based on the largest number of colonies under a registrant's ownership, possession, or control during the preceding 12 months, not a per-colony charge.

Largest colony count during the preceding 12 months	Statewide annual fee
1-9	$10
10-49	$100
50 or more	$250
Bee broker	$250

Section 2951 sets January 1 as the annual payment date. County administrative pages or handouts may differ from or lag behind the approved statewide regulation, so use the CDFA schedule as the statewide rule and confirm the current filing procedure, payment status, and any first-year instructions in BeeWhere and with the relevant county Agricultural Commissioner.

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Who Must Register an Apiary?

Food and Agricultural Code §29040 applies to every owner, broker, or person in possession of bees and requires registration in each county for the colonies under that person's responsibility. The section does not create a one-hive exemption.

Under 3 CCR §2953, each beekeeper, apiary owner, apiary operator, broker, or person in possession of an apiary registers the apiary and colony count on January 1 each year or within 30 days after obtaining ownership, possession, or control.

Section 29042 covers bees moved into California and apiaries acquired after January 1: the owner or person taking possession registers within 30 days. Section 29043 directs the registration to the commissioner for the county where the apiary is located.

This includes backyard, sideline, commercial, and migratory operations.

If you are still deciding whether to keep bees, review the practical commitments in our beginner's guide to starting beekeeping before buying equipment or bees.

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How to Register for 2026

Use the current BeeWhere registration portal and the instructions shown for your home county.

1. Create or sign in to your BeeWhere account.
2. Enter the current owner, broker, or person-in-possession information that applies to your operation.
3. Record every apiary location and its colony count accurately.
4. Review the statewide fee and payment status shown for 2026.
5. Pay the annual assessment through the current program workflow. Section 2951 sets January 1 as the annual payment date; a new registrant should confirm the initial payment procedure with BeeWhere or the county.
6. If you want advance pesticide notice, complete the separate notification request when registering in each relevant county.
7. Save the registration confirmation and verify that the year's status is current.
8. Ask the county Agricultural Commissioner about any step the portal does not clearly resolve.

The CDFA county office directory links to every county Agricultural Commissioner or Agriculture/Weights and Measures department.

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Pesticide Notification Requires an Annual Request

Apiary registration does not by itself create an active advance-notification request. Under 3 CCR §6982, an operator who wants advance notice informs the commissioner of the required contact window when registering in that county. The request expires on December 31 each year.

When a current request exists, 3 CCR §6983 requires a person planning to apply a pesticide labeled toxic to bees to a blossoming plant to check for requesting apiary operators within one mile. If the check identifies a request, the operator or representative receives at least 48 hours' notice. The commissioner or an agreement between the parties may change that period, and special protection-area rules can also apply.

For the current workflow:

• Register the apiary and keep its location accurate.
• Submit the notification request for the current year.
• Provide the contact availability the county requires.
• Confirm the request is active instead of assuming saved contact details renewed it.
• Ask the county Agricultural Commissioner how special crop or protection-area rules apply to your apiary.

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Notify the Commissioner When Colonies Move

The relevant movement rules are Food and Agricultural Code §§29070 and 29070.5.

Movement	Verified notice rule
From a registered apiary in one county into another county where the apiary is not registered for the current year	Notify the destination commissioner within 72 hours of the first movement or entry
A later movement into that destination county	Notify the commissioner within 72 hours of the movement
Removal of the last colony from that destination county	Notify the commissioner within 72 hours of the final movement
Relocation within a county where the apiary is currently registered	Notify the commissioner within 72 hours of relocation

Use the reporting method the destination commissioner currently accepts and keep the BeeWhere location accurate. Do not treat an online map update as proof that every required county notice was completed unless the commissioner confirms that workflow.

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Check County and City Placement Rules

State registration does not answer every land-use question. Local authorities may regulate where hives can be placed or require a separate approval. The answer can depend on the property address and current zoning.

Before installing hives, use the CDFA county directory to find the official county office, then ask:

• Is beekeeping allowed at this parcel and zoning designation?
• Does the county or city require a permit or other approval?
• Are there current hive-count, setback, barrier, water-source, or signage rules?
• Do current county instructions differ from older local materials, and which CDFA or BeeWhere workflow should be used?
• How should movement notices and annual pesticide-notification requests be submitted?
• Are there crop- or season-specific protection rules at this location?

Get the current answer from the responsible government office or published municipal code. Beekeeping association summaries can help you find a topic, but they are not substitutes for the controlling rule.

Our urban beekeeping guide covers practical neighbor and flight-path considerations after you confirm that a location is allowed.

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2026 Compliance Checklist

Before placing bees

• Confirm county and city zoning or permit requirements for the exact address.
• Identify the responsible county Agricultural Commissioner.
• Decide how the location and colony count will be recorded accurately.

Registration

• Register each apiary on January 1 or within 30 days after obtaining ownership, possession, or control.
• Confirm the statewide fee and current payment status in BeeWhere.
• Pay the annual assessment on January 1 through the current official workflow.
• Save the registration confirmation.

Pesticide notification

• Submit the notification request when registering in each county where notice is desired.
• Provide the required daily contact window.
• Confirm the request is active for the current year.
• Renew after the request expires on December 31.

Ongoing updates

• Keep apiary locations and colony counts current.
• Give required movement notices within 72 hours.
• Recheck official sources before relying on a fee, deadline, or local rule.

For day-to-day hive work, pair this compliance list with our hive inspection checklist and beekeeping equipment checklist.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register one hive in California?

Yes. Food and Agricultural Code §29040 applies to owners, brokers, and people possessing bees and does not establish a minimum colony threshold. The statewide annual fee schedule begins at $10 for 1-9 colonies.

How much is California apiary registration in 2026?

CDFA's final approved regulations set the statewide annual fee at $10 for 1-9 colonies, $100 for 10-49 colonies, and $250 for 50 or more colonies or a bee broker. The tier is based on the largest colony count under ownership, possession, or control during the preceding 12 months. Section 2951 sets January 1 as the annual payment date. Confirm the current filing procedure in BeeWhere and with the relevant county Agricultural Commissioner because county administrative materials may differ or lag.

Does BeeWhere registration automatically activate pesticide notifications?

No. An operator who wants advance notice must request it when registering in the county and provide the required contact availability. The request expires on December 31 and must be renewed for the next year.

When do I report a hive move?

Sections 29070 and 29070.5 use a 72-hour notice window for the intercounty and within-county movements described above. Report through the method the commissioner currently accepts and confirm any situation-specific requirement with that office.

Can I keep bees in a California backyard?

State apiary registration is only one part of the answer. County or city land-use rules may govern hive placement or require approval, so check the exact address with the responsible local authority before installing bees.

What happens if my registration or fee is not current?

Do not rely on a generic penalty estimate. Check the current BeeWhere status and contact the county Agricultural Commissioner promptly. Registration, payment status, accurate locations, and the annual notification request are distinct parts of compliance and notification eligibility.

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Keep the Official Sources With Your Records

Save the current BeeWhere confirmation, fee status, notification request, movement reports, and local approval information with your apiary records. Recheck the official program and county office whenever a requirement is unclear or a hive location changes.

For the practical skills behind the checklist, see our beginner beekeeping course. Our sustainable beekeeping guide and California pollinator garden guide cover the next steps for bee-friendly land stewardship.