Hawaii is one of the most unique places in the world to keep bees — and one of the most regulated. The state’s island geography, biosecurity concerns, and rich agricultural heritage have shaped a beekeeping legal framework that differs significantly from anything you’ll find on the mainland.
Whether you’re a backyard hobbyist on Oahu or a commercial operator on the Big Island, understanding the rules that govern your apiary is not optional. Whether keeping bees is your full-time profession, a supplemental source of income, or a hobby, it is important to understand and adhere to the ordinances governing honey bees in your county to avoid potential fines or criminal liability. This guide walks you through each layer of Hawaii’s beekeeping laws — from state statutes and county zoning to disease control, honey sales, and neighbor relations.
Key Insight: Hawaii’s beekeeping rules operate on two levels — state law and county ordinance. Both apply to you simultaneously, and county rules vary considerably from island to island.
Legal Status and Zoning Requirements in Hawaii
Beekeeping is legal throughout Hawaii, but where you can keep bees depends heavily on which county you live in. Each county has its own separate regulations. This means that what’s permitted on Oahu may be restricted or outright prohibited in Hawaii County, and vice versa. Before you set up a single hive, you need to check your county’s zoning rules.
Here is a county-by-county breakdown of the legal zoning landscape for beekeeping in Hawaii:
| County | Zones Where Beekeeping Is Permitted | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| City and County of Honolulu | All zones | Max 8 hives; 25-foot setback from property line |
| Hawaii County (Big Island) | Agricultural (A), Intensive Agriculture (IA), Residential-Agriculture (RA) | 1,000-foot setback in A/IA zones; 75-foot setback in RA zones |
| Kauai County | Agricultural (A) districts | 500-foot buffer from Residential or Resort zones; special use permit required in residential areas |
| Maui County | Rural or agricultural zoned properties | No additional permit required for rural/agricultural zones |
The City and County of Honolulu allows beekeeping in all zone areas, as long as there are no more than 8 hives, 25 feet from the property line. Honolulu’s Land Use Ordinance also specifies minimum lot sizes. The minimum lot size required for the keeping of bees is 5,000 square feet. Hive counts are then scaled by lot area: no more than 2 beehives may be established on zoning lots less than 10,000 square feet; no more than 4 beehives may be established on zoning lots from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet; and no more than 6 beehives may be established on lots greater than 20,000 square feet.
Hawaii County only allows bees in areas zoned Agricultural (A), Intensive Agriculture (IA), and Residential and Agriculture (RA). In A and IA districts, bees must be located no less than 1,000 feet from any major road or other zoning area. In RA districts, there is a 75-foot setback. However, this may be changing. A measure passed by the Hawaii County Council would allow honey bee colonies to be kept in every zoning district on Hawaii Island, including commercial, resort, and industrial properties, where currently they are only allowed in agricultural and residential zones. Check with the Hawaii County Planning Department for the most current status of these rules.
In Kauai County, bees are allowed in all Agricultural Districts (A) as long as they are 500 feet from any Residential district (R) or Resort zones. If you want to keep bees in residential zoning, you will need to get a special use permit from the county. In Maui County, bees are allowed on rural or agricultural zoned properties without the need for further permission.
You can explore how types of bees in Hawaii factor into your apiary decisions, as not all species are treated equally under state law. You may also find it useful to compare beekeeping laws in Texas to understand how island regulations differ from mainland approaches.
Important Note: Zoning laws change. Always verify current rules directly with your county planning or zoning department before establishing an apiary, as ordinances may be updated after this publication.
Registration and Inspection Requirements in Hawaii
At the state level, Hawaii has a formal apiary program administered by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB). The DAB Apiary Program is dedicated to protecting the beekeeping industries in Hawaii by implementing science-based regulations, conducting regular monitoring, preventing the spread of invasive honey bee pests, offering interactive educational opportunities, and maintaining open communication with beekeepers across the state.
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 142-100, registration with the state is structured as follows: beekeepers may register with the department of agriculture, on forms prescribed and prepared by the department, which shall include the name, address, and contact information for the beekeeper, as well as other information that may assist the department in compiling accurate information on Hawaii’s beekeeping industry.
The department of agriculture shall keep registration information confidential subject to the limitations imposed under chapter 92F; provided that the name and business address of each registrant shall be made publicly available by the department, and provided further that the department may compile statistics based on the information, pursuant to section 141-1.
Beyond registration, the DAB Apiary Program actively conducts inspections — particularly for queen breeders. The program conducts quarterly inspections of all queen breeders in Hawaii to ensure they possess the necessary shipment certificates for exporting queen bees without any diseases, done to maintain the health and well-being of the bee population. The program also offers free technical assistance to beekeepers to support them in maintaining the health and vitality of their colonies.
If you are new to beekeeping, connecting with Hawaii’s beekeeping community is a smart first step. The Hawaii Beekeepers Association provides education, advocacy, and resources for beekeepers across all islands. The DAB Apiary Program can be reached at (808) 974-4138 for questions about inspections, biosecurity, or swarm management.
For a side-by-side comparison, see how registration works in other states such as beekeeping laws in Maine and beekeeping laws in Wyoming.
Pro Tip: Even if state registration is voluntary for hobbyists, registering with the DAB gives you access to free technical assistance, inspection support, and early alerts about disease outbreaks in your area.
Hive Location and Property Restrictions in Hawaii
Choosing where to place your hives involves more than finding a sunny spot with good forage. In Hawaii, physical placement rules are some of the most detailed in the country, and they vary not just by county but by lot size and zoning classification.
In the City and County of Honolulu, the Land Use Ordinance specifies that the accessory keeping of bees in artificial hives — such as honeybees and varieties of native bees — is permitted as a hobby or for commercial purposes. Commercial beekeeping in the Residential or Apartment Districts must comply with standards for home occupations.
Beyond the hive count and setback rules outlined in the zoning section above, practical placement considerations matter just as much as legal ones. Providing a nearby water source for your bees is strongly recommended — having a water supply nearby keeps bees from traveling to a neighbor’s pool or other unwanted locations. Hive entrances should ideally face away from neighboring properties, and flight paths should be directed upward using barriers such as fences or hedgerows to reduce conflicts with neighbors and pedestrians.
Hawaii’s island environment also presents unique forage and placement opportunities. Bees may propagate hard-to-control invasive weeds, aid in pollination of endemic plant species whose native pollinators are in decline, and are important contributors to the agricultural economy. Thoughtful hive placement that considers the surrounding ecosystem is both a legal and ethical responsibility.
To understand how Hawaii’s unique ecosystem shapes bee behavior and distribution, read more about invasive insects in Hawaii and their relationship to managed bee populations.
Disease Management and Safety Regulations in Hawaii
Hawaii has some of the strictest biosecurity rules for beekeeping in the entire United States, and for good reason. The state’s isolation makes it both vulnerable to invasive pests and capable of maintaining pest-free status on certain islands — a status worth protecting.
The single most important biosecurity rule in Hawaii is the prohibition on importing bees from outside the state. Illegal importation of honey bees, queen bees, or used bee equipment into Hawaii can result in a class C felony and penalties up to $200,000 [150A-14(C)]. This is not a minor administrative violation — it is a serious criminal offense.
Inter-island movement of bees is also regulated. It is illegal to ship bees inter-island unless they have been inspected by the Department of Agriculture. This rule exists because different islands have different pest profiles. For example, because the Big Island is infested with the varroa mite, beekeepers there can only export to places with the mite, which includes Oahu but not Kauai and Maui. Because Maui does not have the mite, Maui Queen Bee has a wider range of places to sell its bees.
While the state government does not ban the use of pesticides, it does regulate the import of live bees and used beekeeping equipment. This is necessary to control the varroa mite population on the islands, and the HDOA has passed laws requiring licensed beekeepers to monitor their bees.
The DAB Apiary Program actively monitors for biosecurity threats. The program vigilantly monitors any suspicious or illegal activities related to bringing honey bees, queen bees, or used equipment into Hawaii. Used equipment from the mainland is specifically prohibited from importation — no used equipment can be shipped into the state of Hawaii.
Common Mistake: Purchasing used beekeeping equipment from the mainland and shipping it to Hawaii is illegal, even if it appears clean. Only new, unused equipment may be imported into the state.
The varroa mite remains the most destructive pest in Hawaiian apiaries. The pest that has caused the most destruction in the Hawaiian honeybee hive is the varroa mite. Regular hive inspections — ideally every two weeks — help you detect infestations early. Make sure the hives are clean, free of debris, and that there are no ants or other pests in the hive.
The DAB Apiary Program also assists residents with swarm management. The program assists residents who need help with honey bee swarms and hive relocation in Hawaii. If you encounter a swarm, contacting the DAB or a local beekeeping association is the recommended course of action rather than attempting to handle it without experience.
To understand the broader pest landscape your bees face, explore this guide to insects that look like bees and how to distinguish them from managed honey bee populations.
Permits, Fees, and Neighbor Notification in Hawaii
Hawaii’s permit requirements for beekeeping vary by county and by the scale of your operation. Understanding what approvals you need — and when to loop in your neighbors — can save you significant headaches down the road.
At the state level, Hawaii has more stringent regulations, requiring commercial beekeepers to obtain a special permit and adhere to strict guidelines to prevent the introduction of invasive species. Hobbyist beekeepers may face fewer formal permit requirements at the state level, but county rules add another layer of obligation.
In Kauai County, if you want to keep bees in residential zoning, you are going to have to get a special use permit from the county. This is one of the more restrictive county-level requirements in the state and represents a meaningful barrier for urban or suburban beekeepers on Kauai.
In Honolulu, commercial beekeeping operations in residential or apartment districts must meet home occupation standards, which typically involve limits on signage, traffic, and the scale of business activity conducted on the property. Check with the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting for the current application process and any applicable fees.
Regarding neighbor notification, Hawaii does not have a single statewide law requiring you to formally notify adjacent property owners before establishing an apiary. However, proactive communication with neighbors is strongly encouraged by beekeeping organizations and is often a practical necessity for avoiding complaints. Neighbor disputes have been a driving force behind beekeeping legislation in Hawaii — one beekeeper was forced to have his hive removed because a neighbor complained, even though another beekeeper two houses away had two hives without issue.
Pro Tip: Even where not legally required, talking to your neighbors before setting up hives — and sharing honey from your first harvest — goes a long way toward preventing complaints and building goodwill in your community.
For comparison, see how other states handle permit structures and neighbor notification in guides such as beekeeping laws in New Mexico, beekeeping laws in Illinois, and beekeeping laws in Minnesota.
Selling Honey and Hive Products in Hawaii
Hawaii has a well-defined legal framework for selling honey, and it distinguishes clearly between small-scale home-based producers and larger commercial operations. Knowing which category you fall into determines your labeling requirements, where you can sell, and whether you need a commercial permit.
The foundational rule for small-scale producers comes from HRS § 328-79. In 2013, the state made it possible for home-based producers of honey to be exempt from having to process honey in certified honey houses as long as they meet the following criteria: they sell less than 500 gallons of honey per year; they sell honey directly to consumers or retailers who sell directly to consumers; and they label each container of honey sold with the required information.
If you do not meet those criteria, producers are required to obtain a commercial permit from the State Department of Health. Additionally, if the Department receives a consumer complaint about a home-based agricultural producer of honey, the producer will be subjected to food sampling and a subsequent inspection of the premises to determine whether products are misbranded or adulterated (§328-80).
It is important to note that recent updates to Hawaii’s food safety rules do not change the honey-specific statute. The Hawaii State Department of Health adopted amendments to the Hawaii Food Safety Code, effective August 24, 2025, to allow sale of certain homemade foods and align with the 2022 FDA Model Food Code. However, these changes do not apply to home-based agricultural producers of honey, who must continue to comply with HRS 328-79. Honey sellers operate under their own dedicated statute, not the general cottage food framework.
On the wholesale side, home-based agricultural producers of honey may not sell products to a wholesaler. If you want to sell wholesale — to grocery stores, distributors, or food manufacturers — you will need to obtain a commercial food processing permit and process your honey in a licensed facility.
Labeling is another key compliance area. It is recommended that honey manufacturers and processors include this additional statement on their product label: “Honey is not recommended for infants less than twelve (12) months of age.” Depending on your production volume, your label must also comply with federal FDA labeling regulations.
Where you can sell matters too. Cottage food products may be sold directly to the consumer from the home where the products are produced. They may also be sold at for-profit and non-profit events such as farmers markets, craft fairs, fundraisers, and bake sales. They may not be sold over the internet.
Beyond honey, Hawaii’s beekeeping industry also includes queen bee production for export. The beekeeping industries in Hawaii include queen bee rearing for domestic and international export, honey production, and producing an array of value-added products from the hive. Queen breeders are subject to quarterly inspections by the DAB and must hold shipment certificates to export legally.
Important Note: Selling honey online and shipping it out of state triggers federal labeling and food safety requirements that go beyond Hawaii state law. Consult the FDA’s food labeling guidelines and the Hawaii Department of Health before launching any e-commerce honey operation.
For more context on how Hawaii’s agricultural rules intersect with other animal-keeping laws, explore related guides including backyard chicken laws in Hawaii, rooster laws in Hawaii, and roadkill laws in Hawaii. You can also compare honey-selling rules with other states through guides on beekeeping laws in Massachusetts, beekeeping laws in Michigan, beekeeping laws in Wisconsin, and beekeeping laws in Washington.
Hawaii’s beekeeping laws reflect the state’s dual commitment to supporting a thriving apiary industry and protecting its fragile island ecosystem. By understanding the rules at every level — state statute, county zoning, biosecurity requirements, and honey sales regulations — you position yourself to keep bees legally, responsibly, and successfully across the islands. When in doubt, contact the DAB Apiary Program directly or reach out to your county planning department for the most current guidance.