Regulations on Beekeeping by the San Francisco Department of Public Health
Bee pollination plays an important role in agriculture contributing to productive crop yields and diverse ecosystems. San Francisco is one of the most welcoming cities to beekeepers in the United States, legally allowing beekeeping without any specific permit requirements. Bee activity is addressed in two areas of the San Francisco Public Health Code to state:
• Honey bees are not considered a public health nuisance.
• Honey bees are not considered a wild or potentially dangerous animal.
Beekeeping is only generally subject to the law of nuisance, so sponsors are encouraged to manage activity in a manner sensitive to surrounding areas so as not to be a public nuisance. Otherwise, serious repercussions may be addressed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Photo: Jordan Schwartz
