Moving Bees to California - Any Law?

[UtahBees]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering a job opportunity that would take us back to California (Northern). While I don't like the thought of moving the opportunity is exciting.

Would anyone know about any regulation (city/state law) stopping me from taking my soon-to-be-resurrected two beehives with me, and have them in my backyard? Of course I'd make sure they have the right care and all that good neighborly stuff. I'm more concerned with backyard beekeeping rules in general.

Regards,

UtahBees (Scott)

[Kathyp]

we have a bunch of n ca people on here.  what county would you be in?

[annette]

Scott

Yes, where in Northern California?? Near me??

I do not know of any regulations regarding bees at least around here. They seem to be rather lax out here I have noticed.

Good Luck on this major decision
Annette

[UtahBees]

we have a bunch of n ca people on here.  what county would you be in?

Right. I thought about posting that, but that part hasn't been decided. I just know it'll be the Bay Area. Sorry to be so vague - things aren't decided for sure and we're not packed or anything. I just want to live near the foothills somewhere close-ish to the city (San Fran) for commute time (BART or CalTrain, I'm sure).

Thanks for the help Kathy & Annette!

Regards,

Scott

[annette]

Bay area is a whole different set of rules and regulations. I am about 120 miles north of Bay Area. Yes you should get more info about that place. A whole different world than up where I am.

Annette

[Jerrymac]

I just know it'll be the Bay Area.

I just want to live near the foothills somewhere close-ish to the city (San Fran) for commute time (BART or CalTrain, I'm sure).

Are you nuts  :?
I would rather be where you are now than anywhere near San Francisco.

[Angi_H]

You have to have ant certs and they have to be inspected at the Ca state lines for bugs ect. Look at the Dept of Ags site for State of Ca. You would wind up way north of me then as Sf is 4 hrs north of me.

Angi

[DayValleyDahlias]

I seriously don't think there are any major constraints.  Rdy-b lives near Walnut Creek, he may know.  I am a member of the SF Bee Association, drop them an email:  kpetereos@comcast.net  she should know about any regs...

We don't have any here in Santa Cruz County, I am in an unincorporated rural area though....

[UtahBees]

Much appreciated friends. I'll have a look into it on the Dept of Agr. site, and also ping Rdy-b.

I may just leave them here with my brother-in-law for short term at first, so I plan on making it a smooth transfer.

Regards,

Scott

[rdy-b]

The only thing that comes to mind would be if you moved into a neighborhood that had a home owners association to deal with but -arnt those every where? You might get some hot air at the bug station coming through Nevada -but just use the lane that says LOCAL TRAFIC only -your call -one thing about the bay-area is the vast number of micro climates we have in just a short distance from each other many changes in a few miles -try to pin piont where about you would settle -they better pay some big bucks to move here the cost is through the roof -many deals on houses because of meltdown but it is still crazy expensive -California is bee friendly- the state cant pay for a full-time Inspector   :lol: and you dont have to register in contra costa county intill you reach 9 colonies -many clubs for urban keepers -let me know if the move looks like it will happen and i will help open any doors for you that i can  8-) RDY-B

[UtahBees]

Thanks RDY-B!

Scott

[Understudy]

You thinking of moving back to CA. Can I use you place in SLC as a winter resort to practice my snowboarding. :)

California has some pretty strict rules on beehives that come into the state just ask all those beekeepers trying to do Almond farming.

The hives should be inspected before they leave and be free of pests. In Florida if there is one ant in the hive they will ground the the entire truck.

If you are going to the Bay area try to find something in Pacfica or the surrounding communities. The bees will love the area. Also there is enough open space. Not all the neighbors are squeezed together. If you are in San Jose area try just at the edge of Menlo Park. It is close to schools than Pacfica but the homes are closer together. And if you get a home in Pacfica I will use that a s a summer vacation spot. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Kirk-o]

Hi Buddy
I went to Arizona a year ago to purchase two deep nuc's fro Dee Lusby.On my return as I came back into California I was stopped at the Produce checking station and by the Immigration police looking for someone.Both parties couldn't be bothered.I had both nuc's on the front seat of my truck.I told them I had bees they said ok.I had screened top and bottom so they could breath and I could spray with a water bottle.You will have no problem
kirko
los angeles

[rdy-b]

You thinking of moving back to CA. Can I use you place in SLC as a winter resort to practice my snowboarding. :)

California has some pretty strict rules on beehives that come into the state just ask all those beekeepers trying to do Almond farming.

The hives should be inspected before they leave and be free of pests. In Florida if there is one ant in the hive they will ground the the entire truck.

  If you are going to the Bay area try to find something in Pacifica or the surrounding communities. The bees will love the area. Also there is enough open space. Not all the neighbors are squeezed together. If you are in San Jose area try just at the edge of Menlo Park. It is close to schools than Pacifica but the homes are closer together. And if you get a home in Pacfica I will use that a s a summer vacation spot.

,bees dont do well in pacifica -because the sun only comes out 1/3 of the time it is always fogy -try to find something on the other side of the BAY-you will have a more harmonious experience

 :lol: 8-) RDY-B 

[UtahBees]

Understudy, Kirko-o and RDY-B,

Thanks for the advice! I like Pacifica/Half Moon Bay a lot, I also like Lafayette/Walnut Creek/Danville area, or the San Mateo area too, but I'm doing a lot of research, and will be there this next week on business.

Lots to put into a plan, but glad that I won't see much issues with the bees. Since I have to start over this year, the girls will be relatively pest free to start with, and I'll make sure to keep it that way.

I'll let you know what happens, and thanks again for the help everyone! You gotta love our community here!

Regards,

Scott

[ooptec]

If you're starting over wouldn't it be simple to purchase bees there?

Or not    lol


cheers

peter

[UtahBees]

If you're starting over wouldn't it be simple to purchase bees there?

Yeah - it's all timing. I want to make sure I don't miss the 'new package' window.

Thanks -

[ooptec]

Couldn't resist asking about the elephant in the room    lol

Best of everything in your new adventures

cheers

peter

[Angi_H]

There is Still a person taking orders for packages near Sacramento. Just let me know if you want his info.


Angi

[annette]

You might want to contact Sacramento Beekeeping Supply and find out what they have.

[Cindi]

Scott, why don't you move to Canada, hee, hee.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, love our life.  Cindi

[Kirk-o]

OK buddy just do what works for you.It will be ok
kirko

[Cass Cohenour]

To move bees into Utah, they must be inspected in the state of origin before they can be transported into the state and must be accompanied by an inspection certificate. Only disease free colonies can get the certificate.

http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE04/htm/04_0A012.htm

You have to be registered to raise bees in Utah.

http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE04/htm/04_0A005.htm

You have to be inspected twice a year if you wish to raise bees in Utah.

http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE04/htm/04_0A010.htm

To move bees to California, you need to have them inspected in Utah and deemed disease free. You are supposed to have an inspection certificate with the colonies when you take them across state lines. This seems to be a common law in all states. Pollinators get checked at the border to ensure that their colonies are free of invasive species of plants, animals, and insects. They are also supposed to have a second inspection when they arrive at their destination.

After moving the colonies to CA you have 30 days by law to register your colonies. The registration fee is $10. If you have more than 40 colonies you have to pay an annual assessment fee. Be sure to have an inspection certificate from Utah because this may be one of the questions the inspector asks when they come out to inspect your colonies. If you don't allow them to inspect your colonies they can obtain a warrant to inspect them. Also, do not leave any empty hive bodies sitting out as they are considered public nuisance by law, because a colony of AHB may decide to make it a home.

"Excerpts from the California Agricultural Code relating to bees and
apiary inspection can be purchased from: Office Services, California
Department of Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916)
445-8164. Beekeeping in some localities is also governed by city or county
ordinances. Beekeepers should consult local authorities about this."

[rdy-b]

county ag extensions run the show as to the regs there is no state inspector -there are people in the county extensions that are contact people for bees but they have done away with the red tape because they cant pay for people in the field -migratory transports are treated different in every county-one of the down sides to the current process is that i know keepers that have reported neglect and Mass disease - foul-brood and such -to the ag extensions -it is illegal to treat or maintain colonies of bees with foulbrood -that is by the book -the response from ag was to band together with all the keepers to put pressure on the keeper that did not comply with the standards set-forth by ag -reason being that no matter what the statue    said the fact is that there is no MONEY in california for inforceing the statue
 -this is the way it is in cali-we dont sweat the small stuff -the state has no MONEY -they are suppose to be available to grade bees in almonds at no expense to the keeper -but in stead they give out phone numbers of keepers that charge $60 an hour to grade bees then you dont get a certificate ether-the conditions of the budget dictates in this state what is going to happen -we are speaking about two colonies of honey bees -not some invasive species that is going to be relocated -county by county -the number that is requierd for reg is different -never heard of that over 40 colony thing ether - i run plenty over 40-I am the one they come two when they have to make a county mandate inspection for shb - and we police our selfs in this state -and thats whats realy going on :-D 8-) RDY-B

[Angi_H]

I know in our county we have no one to inspect bees. And you do not have to register unless you want pray reports an dhave to be called before propertys are sprayed with in so many miles of your bees.

Angi

[Cass Cohenour]

STATE LAWS RELATING TO BEEKEEPING
California laws regulating beekeeping are enforced by county agricultural
commissioners and provide the basis for an effective apiary inspection
program that helps beekeepers protect honey bee colonies from disease,
pesticide damage, and theft.
Excerpts from the California Agricultural Code relating to bees and
apiary inspection can be purchased from: Office Services, California
Department of Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916)
445-8164. Beekeeping in some localities is also governed by city or county
ordinances. Beekeepers should consult local authorities about this.
Apiary registration.All apiaries must be registered each January with
the agricultural commissioner of the county in which the colonies are
located. Registration fee is $10 and involves listing the location of each
apiary and the number of colonies at each location. Newly acquired apiaries
and apiaries brought from out of state must be registered within 30
days of establishment.
Apiary movements and identification. Details of laws pertaining to
movement and identification of apiaries can be obtained from county
agricultural commissioners or Supervisor of Apiary Projects, California
Department of Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Apiary assessment. Resident and nonresident beekeepers operating
40 or more colonies in California are required to pay an annual assessment
fee on their colonies. The rate has varied for several years, so the
Supervisor of Apiary Projects (address above) should be contacted for
current rates.

http://www.beeguild.org/CA_Beekeeping_V2.pdf


When I was searching the web earlier trying to find some info on any laws, I discovered that there isn't much on the web about bee laws in California. Your state must really be broke because they MAKE YOU PAY for "excerpts from the California Agricultural Code relating to bees and
apiary inspection." It seems that should be something that they would give to beekeeper FOR FREE!!! I'm just glad I am where I am at. Our legislators gave the Dept of Ag Apiary Division an additional $200k this year to help out the beeks. They have a co-pay program for packages, beeks pay $25 per 3# package. They are also giving beeks a treatment of Apivar per each colony registered last year and an amount of HFCS determined also by the number of colonies registered last year.
So since there is no money for inspections, any fly by night outfit could decide to start up and sell packages, nucs, and queens all across the country from within California without ever having a single inspection (since ther is no money) or no knowledge themselves of how to diagnose a diseases. That's good to know, especially for someone who might have been thinking of buying some of those bees that will be coming out of the almonds real soon. I'm am truly sorry that this is your reality in CA. 
As for the guy with the AFB, I believe I would have been pouring some gasoline in those colonies late at night after sealing the entrance. A few guys each with a 5 gallon can of gas could really do some damage in a short amount of time. There is nothing wrong with being a vigilante every now and then, as long as you don't caught. Well, if you police yourselves you shouldn't have to worry about that.

Scott, here is a list of county ag commissioners if you should decide to contact the one for where you intend to move.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/county/county_contacts.html

[rdy-b]

these things have been going on for years and years for the most part the keepers in cali do police them selfs -and do a fine job of it -sounds pretty good where you come from I can understand why you put so much stock in your ag system -they are doing great things where you are - wonder where those packages you guys will get come from -mite even be the almonds -any way -we are not so fortunate -sorry I hope you understand why we as california keepers dont worry about what comes up in statue from times gone by when cali had top notch apiary controls in place -but it simply isint that way these days- I know it is easy and fun to pull up facts from the internet -just because they dont add up to a hill of beans is no reason to break the civil laws in place those are taken very seriously in this state -I know everybody wants to be on the right side of the law so i will have no worries  :lol: RDY-B

[Cass Cohenour]

They are getting the bees from Georgia. The bad thing is, There was not a single queen producer which could supply queens so several queen breeders went in together to get the contract. I don't know exactly where the packages are coming from, other than Georgia, but I will find out when I get mine because they should have two accompanying certificates of inspection, one for the bees and one for the queens.

[blckoakbees]

If you are going to bring your hives in I would recommend having them inspected and a certification.  While you might not be stopped at the border, you may be the unlucky one.

I know the more heavily populated areas such as around S.F. are more likely to have city or county ordinances about things like beekeeping.  So you may want to look at that when deciding where to locate.  You may want to search the web because there is a whole group of urban beekeepers in the Bay Area.  I know that if the bees do not bother the neighbors you usually do not have a problem no matter what the ordinances are.

We have members of our club in Sacramento Ca who keep 5 or more hives in the city with no problems.
I hope this is of assistance.

And once you move don't tell anyone about the good parts of California, we have too many people here. Better to be thought of as the land or Fruits and Nuts (people not agricultural) it keeps people from moving here.

[BMAC]

And once you move don't tell anyone about the good parts of California, we have too many people here. Better to be thought of as the land or Fruits and Nuts (people not agricultural) it keeps people from moving here.

haha.  Good parts of California.  I must have missed that during my 4 year stay south of LA.  I couldn't wait till my time was done and I could move back out of that state.

[annette]

You never experienced northern california I imagine.

[BMAC]

nope.  I followed all the LA idiots to Big Bear a few times, but with the meager pay I was earning at the time and no time off, I never ventured further north than Seal Beach.  I can picture Northern Cali being a nice place to live, but I believe overall it is over priced as most people (for whatever reason) also enjoy living in California. 

Trust me, I am not really knocking on living in California.  I know it just isnt for me.....

[annette]

I understand. It is very expensive to live here so I understand so many people wanting to move away.

[Alan Forbes]

I'm in the East Bay; the Lafayette/Walnut Creek/Danville area starts 10-15 miles east of me and summer temperatures can be 15°-20° warmer with winter temperatures 10°-15° cooler.  The further you get away from the bay, the less the temperatures are moderated by the water mass.  If you don't like the fog, Contra Costa county (Lafayette/Walnut Creek/Danville) is the place you want to be..........(...."so they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly").

I don't think Berkeley or Oakland (where I used to live) have any laws against keeping bees; we are pretty tolerant folks out West here.

[UtahBees]

I'm in the East Bay; the Lafayette/Walnut Creek/Danville area starts 10-15 miles east of me

Thanks Alan! I appreciate the input. Your area is nice, and I'd like to live somewhere around there if I take the position. I'll update everyone after the official offer comes, and we've come to a decision.

[Mklangelo]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering a job opportunity that would take us back to California (Northern). While I don't like the thought of moving the opportunity is exciting.

Would anyone know about any regulation (city/state law) stopping me from taking my soon-to-be-resurrected two beehives with me, and have them in my backyard? Of course I'd make sure they have the right care and all that good neighborly stuff. I'm more concerned with backyard beekeeping rules in general.

Regards,

UtahBees (Scott)

It's California.  Of course there is a law...lol