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Butte County Beekeeping Regulations

Local beekeeping rules for Butte County and 5 cities: setback distances, hive limits, registration, and a link to each current municipal code.

Read this first. This is a convenience summary compiled from public municipal codes as of 2020. Rules change — this is not legal advice. Always confirm with your city or county and the official code before keeping bees.
Statewide, California requires apiary registration with your county agricultural commissioner (register at BeeWhere: https://beewhere.calagpermits.org/). Local city/county rules below are in addition to state law.

Butte

county

In the County of Butte, there are no ordinance codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries. Regulations relating to movement of bees and acarine mites outlined in ordinance.

Code: Chapter 39 - ACARINE MITES*
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation → Check the current regulation →

Biggs

city

(5) Bees. No person shall possess or keep any bees or any insects of the genus Apis. [Ord. 382 § 1, 2009]

Code: Chapter 5.20 Livestock and Fowl · 1) The animal control officer or any agent of the city is authorized to seize and impound any animal found in violation of this chapter.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Chico

city
100 ft
from buildings
1 hive per 10,000 sq. ft. of lot area
hive limit

The keeping of honey bees is permitted in the RS and R1 zoning districts as a form of small animal keeping. See ordinance for further regulations.

Code: 19.76.040 Animal keeping.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Gridley

city

Bees. No person shall possess or keep any bees (or any insects of the genus apis).

Code: 6.08.020 Prohibited activities concerning animals.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Oroville

city
150 ft
from buildings
1-2 (max 2)
hive limit

One hive of honeybees for each 20,000 square feet of available site area, up to a maximum of 2 hives; provided, however, that aggressive types of bees, such as Africanized honeybees, shall not be kept.

Code: Chapter 17.16.120 Animal keeping.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Paradise

city
100 ft
from buildings
5 per acre
hive limit

Must have permit from Butte County Agricultural Commissioner. Minimum lot requirement: 43,560 sq.ft. See ordinance for futher regulations.

Code: Chapter 17.35.300 Beekeeping regulations
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →
Compiled from public municipal codes, originally referenced by the California Master Beekeeper Program (2020) and re-presented for easier lookup. Verify every rule against the linked official code before keeping bees. Not legal advice.

Other counties: Alameda · Alpine · Amador · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · Del Norte · El Dorado · see all 58 →