PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
City of Cape Town Draft Animal Keeping By-law
Sun, 27 September 2026
This page is part of a more easily readable version of the controversial Draft Animal Keeping By-law published for public comment until 29 September 2026. There are links below to the other 44 sections.
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
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SECTION 38
38. Keeping of bees
(1) No person may keep bees or conduct beekeeping activities on land not zoned for agricultural purposes, unless he or she is the holder of a permit for the keeping of bees issued by the City. A permit for the keeping of bees is not transferable and is renewable.
(2) No person may utilize the services of a beekeeper for the purposes of carrying out any beekeeping activities unless the beekeeper is in possession of a valid certificate issued by the relevant Department for Agriculture and a permit issued by the City.
(3) Persons wishing to apply for a permit to keep bees or conduct beekeeping activities must submit proof of registration with the relevant Department for Agriculture, valid membership of a beekeepers’ association and proof of training in beekeeping activities and procedures.
(4) Bees must be kept in a bee-hive made of solid and weatherproof material and built in such a manner that honeycombs may be formed in frames that can be separated and removed from the bee-hive.
(5) Each beehive must be situated a minimum of ―
(a) five meters from any boundary of any premises; and
(b) a minimum of fifty meters from any ―
(i) public place or building; and
(ii) from any place used for the keeping of animals, poultry or birds.
(6) Each beehive stand must be surrounded by a wire fence, hedge or wall of at least 1.5meters high, which must be at least 5 meters away from any part of the beehive.
(7) The entrance to each apiary must be marked with a warning sign, e.g. Caution: honeybee apiary, Danger: bees at work, Do not enter.
(8) Hives may not be closer than 5 meters to each other to allow beekeepers to work without disturbing neighbouring colonies, and the hive entrance should not face neighbouring properties.
(9) Each beehive must be supplied with a permanent water source within five meters.
(10) Council may determine the number of hives that may be kept on a premises and the right to withhold its approval in the case of the applicant not having, in the opinion of the Council, sufficient knowledge of the habits of bees.
(11) Council may determine the number of hives that may be permitted in specific geographic areas/suburbs.
(12) Neighbours must be kept informed when beekeepers intend to work the bees.
(13) No garbage, compost or manure may be stored within five meters of any beehive.
(14) Beekeeping activities may not cause a health nuisance or nuisance to any person or animal.
(15) The City may cause the removal of bees and hives at the owner’s cost in the event of noncompliance, in the interest of public safety, or similar.
(16) The City may establish and maintain a beekeeping database and may inspect beekeeping premises in accordance with this By-law and City policies. The City may determine Standard Operating Procedures relating to the keeping of bees.
(17) The City may –
(a) withhold permission in circumstances where an application is made for keeping bees on a property being within 400 metres measured from the boundary of such premises, of any church, school, hospital, cinema or any other place of amusement, gathering or recreation;
(b) withhold permission where it is the opinion of Council that the keeping of bees on a specific property may cause any nuisance to the occupiers of abutting premises or members of the public; or
(c) withhold or withdraw permission if it becomes apparent that hive maintenance practices that reduce the risk of swarming are not practised.
(1) No person may keep bees or conduct beekeeping activities on land not zoned for agricultural purposes, unless he or she is the holder of a permit for the keeping of bees issued by the City. A permit for the keeping of bees is not transferable and is renewable.
(2) No person may utilize the services of a beekeeper for the purposes of carrying out any beekeeping activities unless the beekeeper is in possession of a valid certificate issued by the relevant Department for Agriculture and a permit issued by the City.
(3) Persons wishing to apply for a permit to keep bees or conduct beekeeping activities must submit proof of registration with the relevant Department for Agriculture, valid membership of a beekeepers’ association and proof of training in beekeeping activities and procedures.
(4) Bees must be kept in a bee-hive made of solid and weatherproof material and built in such a manner that honeycombs may be formed in frames that can be separated and removed from the bee-hive.
(5) Each beehive must be situated a minimum of ―
(a) five meters from any boundary of any premises; and
(b) a minimum of fifty meters from any ―
(i) public place or building; and
(ii) from any place used for the keeping of animals, poultry or birds.
(6) Each beehive stand must be surrounded by a wire fence, hedge or wall of at least 1.5meters high, which must be at least 5 meters away from any part of the beehive.
(7) The entrance to each apiary must be marked with a warning sign, e.g. Caution: honeybee apiary, Danger: bees at work, Do not enter.
(8) Hives may not be closer than 5 meters to each other to allow beekeepers to work without disturbing neighbouring colonies, and the hive entrance should not face neighbouring properties.
(9) Each beehive must be supplied with a permanent water source within five meters.
(10) Council may determine the number of hives that may be kept on a premises and the right to withhold its approval in the case of the applicant not having, in the opinion of the Council, sufficient knowledge of the habits of bees.
(11) Council may determine the number of hives that may be permitted in specific geographic areas/suburbs.
(12) Neighbours must be kept informed when beekeepers intend to work the bees.
(13) No garbage, compost or manure may be stored within five meters of any beehive.
(14) Beekeeping activities may not cause a health nuisance or nuisance to any person or animal.
(15) The City may cause the removal of bees and hives at the owner’s cost in the event of noncompliance, in the interest of public safety, or similar.
(16) The City may establish and maintain a beekeeping database and may inspect beekeeping premises in accordance with this By-law and City policies. The City may determine Standard Operating Procedures relating to the keeping of bees.
(17) The City may –
(a) withhold permission in circumstances where an application is made for keeping bees on a property being within 400 metres measured from the boundary of such premises, of any church, school, hospital, cinema or any other place of amusement, gathering or recreation;
(b) withhold permission where it is the opinion of Council that the keeping of bees on a specific property may cause any nuisance to the occupiers of abutting premises or members of the public; or
(c) withhold or withdraw permission if it becomes apparent that hive maintenance practices that reduce the risk of swarming are not practised.
See next section
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
Other sections
CHAPTER 1 – General Provisions
CHAPTER 2 – Keeping of Animals
CHAPTER 3 – Bee Keeping
CHAPTER 4 – Enforcement