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Bees and Apiaries

Apis mellifera - anterior.jpg

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Insect Prevention and Management (IPPM) program, is deeply committed to protecting and promoting pollinator communities vital to the state’s agricultural and natural landscapes. The IPPM program has become increasingly involved in pollinator related activities:

Apiary registration

Every person who owns, or is in charge of, five or more colonies of bees located within the state or Oregon, must register their hives with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. If you currently own less than five hives you are not required to register your bees at this time.

Every person who owns, or is in charge of, five or more colonies of bees located within the state or Oregon, must register their hives each year with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. If you currently own less than five hives you are not required to register your bees at this time.​​

The form needed to register colonies is located at:

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The current cost of apiary registration is $10 with an additional charge of $0.50 per colony for five or more hives. After July 1, the registration fee will increase to $20. The fee per hive remains at $0.50 per colony for five or more hives.​


The number of colonies that must be registered is equal to the highest number of full-strength colonies managed within the state at any point during the previous year, prior to the registration deadline of June 1.​

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The State of Oregon defines a colony as any receptacle or container made or prepared for the use of bees, or box or similar container taken possession of by bees, with the exception of nucleus hives. Nucleus hives do not require registration at this time.​
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All money collected from apiary registration shall be spent on research at the OSU Bee Lab that is predominantly focused on honeybees. http://honeybeelab.oregonstate.edu​​

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Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in bee hive losses due to multiple factors. The honeybee industry approached the state legislature to adapt new statutes supporting bee research. The change to our ​apiary registration rule was a collaborative effort between Oregon State University honeybee researchers, the honeybee industry, environmental organizations, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture with the objective to protect bees in Oregon.​

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This information can be found online:

Bringing Bees from Out of State

If you are bringing hives into Oregon from another state, please fill out this form regarding the health of your hives. This allows our IPPM program to better understand the condition of incoming colonies, monitor potential pest or disease concerns, and support healthy pollination activities across the state. 


Handling Neighboring Hives & Wild Honeybee Activity

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) does not have regulatory authority over domestic bee hives. If you’re experiencing concerns with a neighboring hive, we encourage starting with a respectful conversation, as many issues can be resolved directly.
If the concern continues, check with your city or county who may have local ordinances that apply. Please contact your county or city commissioner’s office for guidance on available steps in your area.

If you’re dealing with wild bees, Oregon State Beekepers Association has volunteers who will collect honeybees if they are swarming outdoors. If the bees are inside your home or other structure, or are not honeybees, you will need to contact an exterminator or bee removal service. 

More info from ODA
Pesticides and pollinators

Bee identification and protection

Resources