More Information
The Issue: The outdated Santa Barbara County bee ordinance mandates that bee hives must be at least 2 football fields (600 feet) from the closest residence. [Art V, Sec 7-31, Ordinance No. 2580, Section 6]
This significantly restricts Santa Barbara’s ability to facilitate bees’ pollination. A third of the food we eat relies on pollination. Bee populations are declining due to pesticides and other factors.
The solution: A simple, sensible change to the Santa Barbara County apiary ordinance: making it the same as the city ordinance. This small change would have no impact on any of the other ordinances or regulations.
How You Can Help
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Contact the County Board of Supervisors:
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Roy Lee, roylee@countyofsb.org
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Joan Hartman, jhartmann@countyofsb.org
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Laura Capps (Chair), lcapps@countyofsb.org
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Bob Nelson (Vice-Chair), nelson@bos.countyofsb.org
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Steve Lavagnino, steve.lavagnino@countyofsb.org
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• Attend (and speak) at a County Supervisor board meeting
either in person or via Zoom, or submit a comment for board review. Comment guidelines are provided here: https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/2836/Board-of-Supervisors-Methods-of-Particip
Meetings are held at 105 East Anapamu Street, Fourth Floor, on the following dates
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March 4, 2025
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March 18, 2025
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April 1, 2025
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May 6, 2025
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May 20, 2025
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June 3, 2025
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June 24, 2025
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July 1, 2025
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July 15, 2025
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August 19, 2025
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September 9, 2025
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September 23, 2025
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October 7, 2025
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October 21, 2025
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November 4, 2025
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December 9, 2025
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Examples of Success
Santa Barbara has some of the most restrictive beekeeping ordinances in the State of California, which is ironic in light of its agricultural history and ideal climate. A comparison with other county ordinances is instructive:
In 2012, the San Diego City council voted unanimously to allow beehives in single family zoning so long as the hives are more than 15 feet from residential structures and 20 feet from the road.
In 2015, unincorporated San Diego County ordinances were updated to allow for 1 or 2 hives 25 feet from roads and 35 feet from neighboring dwellings, and 150 feet from a Sensitive Site (such as schools, playgrounds or residences occupied by sensitive individuals [Ch. 9, Div 2, Title 6, Secs. 62.907, 62.908, 62.910].
In 2015, the City of Los Angeles updated its Municipal Code [Section 12.03, Art. 2, Ch 1, Sec. 2] to allow hives 5 feet from lot lines and 20 feet from the street.
In 2022, Ventura County updated its ordinances to allow beekeeping 10 feet from the property line, 20 feet from the street, and 150 feet from Sensitive Sites (ord. No. 4606, Section 4, 8107-2.6.1)
In San Luis Obispo County, hives must be 200 feet from roads (Title 5, Ch. 5.04). There is no other specific minimum distance from either residences or property lines.