Beekeeping Permit

In July of 2025, the City Council legalized beekeeping in South St. Paul. Owners or individuals that live in a single or two-family home are eligible to keep bees in South St. Paul after obtaining the required beekeeping permit. The Application for this permit, a list of the documents that must be submitted with the application, and a description of the requirements can be found to the right.

Beekeeping Permit Application

In order to be eligible to keep bees on a property in South St. Paul, an application must demonstrate they can meet the following minimum requirements:

• The number of hives allowed is based on lot size
  • Less than one-half acre: 2 colonies
  • One half acre to three fourths acre: 4 colonies 
  • More than three fourths acre: 6 colonies
  • More than one acre: 8 colonies 
• Hive location standards
  • The hive must be located in a side or rear yard
  • The hive must be located 10 feet away from all property lines
  • The hive must be located at least 25 feet away from any dwelling unit on a neighboring lot
  • For a two-family lot, the hive must be located at least 25 feet away from the dwelling unit in which the beekeeper does not reside. 
• Flyway Barrier
  • A 6-foot-tall flyway barrier  is required whenever a hive is less than 25 feet from a property line
  • Acceptable barriers include a wall,  fence, dense vegetation or a combination thereof
  • The barrier must be parallel to the lot line for 10 feet in either direction of the hive
  • The other sides of the hive that are not parallel to the property line must still have a barrier that is at least 4 feet tall
  • A backyard that is fenced with a 6-foot-tall privacy fence would meet the flyway barrier requirements