Costa Mesa City Council voted to approve an ordinance to allow residential beekeeping in certain residential neighborhoods at the January 21, 2025, Council meeting. This ordinance legalizes residential beekeeping through the use of a beekeeping permit.

A beekeeping permit is required for all domesticated hives and for any person intending to keep, maintain, and have in their possession and under their control a residential beehive.

• Residential Beekeeping Application
• Costa Mesa Residential Beekeeping Best Management Practices
• Residential Beekeeping Ordinance No. 2025-01
• City Council Agenda Report 01-21-2025

Applicant Eligibility

• Maximum of two (2) production hives are permitted with additional temporary expansion hives allowed as needed to manage swarming.
• A water source
• Beehives should be secured from unauthorized access and not visible to the public.
• Beehives should be located at least 15 feet from any property line and 25 feet from neighboring property.
• Beehive must have a 6-foot solid barrier (fence, wall, or dense vegetation) be installed to direct bee flight paths upwards and away from neighboring properties.

Note: A residential beekeeping permit DOES NOT override private property restrictions in covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&R) or Homeowner’s Association Regulations.

Fees

• $75.00 Initial Permit Fee (2-yr. permit)
• $75.00 Permit Renewal Fee

Applications can be faxed to (714) 754-4861 or mailed to: Costa Mesa Animal Control (Residential Beekeeping) PO Box 1200, Costa Mesa, CA 92628 | Processing time for applications is approximately 6-8 weeks.

For questions, please call Animal Services Unit at 714-754-5128 | 714-754-5311