You can keep bees for personal use as long as you follow the city guidelines. No permit or license is needed.

Where You Can Keep Bees

• Your home
• A community garden
• School-owned property
• Property owned by a government agency or religious organization

How Many Bee Hives You Can Have

You may have up to five hives in Salem without a permit or license.

• A maximum of five hives are allowed per property.
• You can have up to seven hives during the months of April through August.
• If you own or manage five or more colonies of bees in Oregon, you must register your hives with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Where on Your Property Bee Hives Can Be Located

Bee hives must be placed in the side or rear yard of your property, meeting minimum setback requirements.

If a hive is within 25 feet of a property line, you must do one of the following:

1. Maintain a flyaway barrier at least six feet high, parallel to the property line, for a maximum of 10 feet.
2. Elevate the hive at least 10 feet above ground level.

Other Beekeeping Rules

To ensure responsible beekeeping, you must follow these additional rules:

• Provide a constant supply of water for bees within 15 feet of each hive.
• Ensure comb or wax is not left on the grounds to avoid robbing from other bees or attracting predators.
• Keep hives well maintained. This helps prevent them from becoming a nuisance for neighbors, such as causing noise or odors.

Exemptions

You do not have to follow these rules if your property is zoned to allow the keeping of livestock or other animals, such as in Residential Agriculture or Exclusive Farm Use zones.

You can check your property zone online or by calling the Planning Information Desk at 503-588-6213.

Additional Information

For more details, you can refer to:

• Salem Revised Code 50.720
• Oregon State University Extension Service Residential Beekeeping guidelines

By following these guidelines, you can enjoy beekeeping while ensuring the safety and comfort of your neighbors and the environment.