One of the joys of living in rural America is being surrounded by agriculture and nature. If you’ve planted your Walla Walla Sweet Onions and built your chicken coop, you might start thinking about keeping bees. Any apiary in the state of Washington, even for personal use, must be registered with the state Department of Agriculture.

Walla Walla

Beekeeping is allowed on any property larger than a half acre, so long as it is fenced.

College Place

Rules for beekeeping in College Place can be found in section 6.42.080 of the municipal code. Only two hives per lot are allowed and there are requirements that they must be located away from property lines.

Milton-Freewater

Beekeeping is not included in the municipal code, so you may wish to consult the city at (541) 938-5531. A license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture is only required if you plan to keep five or more hives.