Laws & Policies

County of San Diego

Apiary Program (Website)
(County Agricultural Commissioner/Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures)

State of California

California Laws Pertaining to Bee Management and Honey Production (PDF)
(California Department of Food and Agriculture)

California law requires beekeepers to register bees. BeeWhere is a real-time mapping system where users can mark hives with a simple pin drop in the field.

Learn more at BeeWhereCalifornia.com

Licensed Pest Applicators

County of San Diego Bee Protection Practices Agreement for Avocados (PDF)

California Code of Regulations Pertaining to the Protection of Bees (PDF)
- regulations managed and enforced by the CA Department of Pesticide Regulation
(California Department of Food and Agriculture)

How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PDF)
(Pacific Northwest Extension)

Insurance - Liability

Beekeepers and those who foster beehives (allow others to keep beehives on their property), should check with their own property and/or business insurance companies regarding liability issues and insurance coverage pertaining to beekeeping and related activities.

Municipal Ordinance Codes Pertaining to Bees

Carlsbad (Chapter 7.12 Bees and Apiaries)

Chula Vista (6.04.100 Beekeeping permitted when)

Coronado (32.20.020 C. Livestock, fowl, bees.)

Del Mar

El Cajon (17.205.035 Beekeeping)

Encinitas (4.04.020 Title 4 Animal Regulations)

Escondido (Sec. 17-14 Keeping of bees)

Imperial Beach (Chapter 6.04)

La Mesa (8.04.040 Keeping of bees)

Lemon Grove (18.16.060 Exotic animals and beekeeping)

National City (Chapter 8.34 Beekeeping)

Oceanside

Poway (17.08.110 (J) Permitted and conditional uses – Animal and agricultural uses).

San Diego (Chapter 4: Article 4: Division 4 - Beekeeping)

San Marcos (Check with Director of Planning: SMMC 20.415.C and D.3, Table 20.415-2)

Santee (17.10.030 Residential use regulations)

Solana Beach (Table 17.20.040-A: Animal Regulations, Residential Zones- states apiaries not allowed in residential zones)

Vista (Chapter 6:16 Bees)

Jurisdiction Finder

Map Information and Tools

This map is provided by SANDAG to show locations that are in unincorporated and incorporated areas.
It is for informational purposes only.

Type in an address in the search box at the top left of the map to locate on the map.
Next, be sure the 'Jurisdictions' layer is selected under the Layers menu located on the right side of map.

You can make Jurisdictions more transparent to see the map underneath by adjusting the slider dial.