Home / CA Regulations / Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County Beekeeping Regulations

Local beekeeping rules for Santa Clara County and 15 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.

Santa Clara

county
100 ft
from road
100 ft
from property line

An apiary with 1-3 colonies may be placed as close to 25 feet to a roadway and/or property line if an effect flight dispersing barrier is in place. Apiaries with 20+ colonies must be 300 feet from all property lines.

Code: CHAPTER II. - BEEKEEPING · Sec. B29-16. - Penalty; abatement.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation → Check the current regulation →

Campbell

city
300 ft
from road
1000 ft
from buildings

See municipal code for additional regulations such as water supply and identification.

Code: Chapter 7.28 - BEEKEEPING · 7.28.060 - Notice, correction of violation
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Cupertino

city
20 ft
from road
8 ft
from property line

Registration with CAC required. Only two hives may be kept or maintained on parcels less than 5,000 square feet in size. See municipal code for futher regulations.

Code: CHAPTER 8.07: BEEKEEPING · 8.07.050 Enforcement.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Gilroy

city

Swine, bees, chickens, roosters, peafowl, ostriches and other “Ratitae,” and livestock prohibited except in agricultural zones.

Code: 4.2
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Los Altos

city

Permitted in the R1 district.

Code: 5.10.010 - Permitted animals in R1 districts.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Los Altos Hills

city
300 ft
from road
1000 ft
from buildings

See municipal code for additional regulations such as water supply and identification.

Code: Article 8 Beekeeping
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Los Gatos

city
25 ft
from road
20 ft
from property line
Sec. 4.80.027. - Number of apiaries.
hive limit

See municipal code for additional regulations such as water supply and identification.

Code: ARTICLE VIII. - BEEKEEPING
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Milpitas

city No local ordinance

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

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

Monte Sereno

city
6 ft to the side line, 10 ft to the rear line ft
from property line
4-6 (depending on lot size)
hive limit

No bees may be kept for commercial purposes. See municipal code for additional regulations such as water supply and identification.

Code: Chapter 6.06 - BEEKEEPING · 6.06.050 - Violations.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Morgan Hill

city
25 ft
from property line
1-2 (depending on lot size)
hive limit

Registration with CAC required. See municipal code for futher regulations.

Code: 6.36.275 - Keeping of bees regulations · 6.36.300 - Violation.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Mountain View

city
20 ft
from road
10 ft
from property line

Written notice required to the city when bees are moved in. See municipal code for additional regulations.

Code: ARTICLE IV. - BEEKEEPING · SEC. 5.49. - Notice, correction of violation
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Palo Alto

city
25 ft
from property line
2
hive limit

Setbacks apply when bees are kept in any area other than zoned agricultural or open space. Written permission from all adjacent neighbors required.

Code: 6.20.060 Bees.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

San Jose

city

Permit required and expires every 12 months.

Code: 7.60.530 - Beekeeping permit - Period of validity.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Santa Clara

city
20 ft
from road
20 ft
from buildings
2
hive limit

Written notice required to the city when bees are moved in. See municipal code for additional regulations.

Code: Chapter 6.28 BEEKEEPING · 6.28.050 Notice, correction of violation, penalties.
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Saratoga

city
6 ft
from property line
3 or 4
hive limit

See municipal code for additional regulations such as water supply and identification.

Code: 7-20.230 - Beekeeping. · (i)Penalty
Last verified: 2020 — confirm at the source.
Check the current regulation →

Sunnyvale

city Registration req.
25 ft
from property line
100 ft
from buildings
5
hive limit

No more than five hives shall be maintained on any one lot or parcel of land except that this condition shall not apply to any agricultural use within any zone pursuant to a use permit. The address of all such hives shall be registered with the office of the Santa Clara County agriculture commissioner. See municipal code for additional regulations.

Code: Chapter 6.08. BEEKEEPING STANDARDS
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 →