Home / CA Regulations / Merced County

Merced County Beekeeping Regulations

Local beekeeping rules for Merced County and 6 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.

Merced

county

Apiaries allowed A1 Zone (A-1-40 A-2)

Code: 18.64.030 Land Area and Zoning (4)
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation → Check the current regulation →

Atwater

city

Considered a nuisance. Exceptions: kept within a schoolhouse for the purpose of study observation.

Code: Chapter 8.08 Bees
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Dos Palos

city No local ordinance

No municipal code found online

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

Gustine

city

Allowed in Agricultural Zone.

Code: Sec. 7-3-6. - Keeping swine, bees, chickens, roosters, peafowl, doves, ostriches, other "Ratitae," and livestock.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Livingston

city

Any hive or stand of bees, prohibited in the city limits.

Code: 10-3-15: ANIMALS PROHIBITED WITHIN CITY LIMITS
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
⚠ 2020 link dead — search current regulation →

Los Banos

city

No person shall keep or maintain within the City any stand of bees

Code: Sec. 6-1.9004 Bees.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Merced

city

Bee Raising not permitted

Code: Table 6.04.081A- Allowed Animal Raising Activities
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 →