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Marin County Beekeeping Regulations

Local beekeeping rules for Marin County and 11 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.

Marin

county

Defined as Agriculture (land use).

Code: 22.130.030
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation → Check the current regulation →

Belvedere

city No local ordinance

In the City of Belvedere, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries.

Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
⚠ 2020 link dead — search current regulation →

Corte Madera

city
20 ft
from road
20 ft
from buildings
2, or 4
hive limit

Permit required. Parcels less than half-acre, max hives 2. Parcels more than half-acre, max hives 4. See municipal code for further requirements.

Code: Chapter 18.21 Keeping of Bees and/or Chickens
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Fairfax

city No local ordinance

In the City of Fairfax, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries. Lighted material shall not be used in conncect with smoking bees in hazardous ares except by permit.

Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Larkspur

city No local ordinance

In the City of Larkspur, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries. Lighted material shall not be used in conncect with smoking bees in hazardous ares except by permit.

Code: 14.04.110
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Mill Valley

city

Prohibited

Code: 6.12.140 Dairies, stockyards, apiaries—Prohibited after July 1, 1943
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Novato

city No local ordinance

In the City of Novato, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries.

Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Ross

city No local ordinance

In the City of Ross, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries.

Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

San Anselmo

city No local ordinance

In the City of San Anselmo, there are no municipal codes set in place for the ownership of apiaries. Lighted material shall not be used in conncect with smoking bees in hazardous ares except by permit.

Code: 3-3.810
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

San Rafael

city

Beekeeping specifically exempted from animal keeping regulations 14.17.020 (B)(8)

Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Sausalito

city

No person, corporation, partnership or association shall keep bees within the City without a written permit to do so from the Health Officer of the City.

Code: Chapter 6.16 Beekeeping · 6.16.040 Penalty for violation. Anyone keeping bees without a valid written permit from the Health Officer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to exceed $100.00 or to imprisonment in the County Jail not to exceed 30 days, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Tiburon

city

Permit required. See municipal code for full list of regulations.

Code: 16-40.070 - Chickens and honey bees
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 · Butte · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · Del Norte · see all 58 →