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Beekeeping in California: Everything you need to know

by Flow Hive 5 min read

Are you thinking about taking up beekeeping in California? Read on to find out more.

Can I keep bees in California?
The benefits of beekeeping in California
Can you keep bees in your backyard in California?
The challenges of beekeeping in California
Do you need a license to keep bees in California?
How do I start beekeeping in California?

Did you know that California is considered the best state in the US to keep bees?* From deserts to the coast to major cities, the sunshine state is bursting with beekeeping opportunities. Our Flow technology makes harvesting honey a breeze! Experience the changing flavors of the season by harvesting one frame at a time. For first-time beekeepers or old hands, a Flow Hive allows you to watch the honey flow from your hive without disturbing the bees.

Can I keep bees in California?

You can absolutely keep bees in California. In fact, the climate, agriculture, and biodiversity of California make it one of the most popular states for beekeepers. Whether it’s to get in touch with nature, have a fun family activity, give your garden a pollination boost or keep your shelves stocked with honey, there’s nothing quite like keeping bees. See how a Flow Hive helped turn Brooke’s nerves into a love of beekeeping with her 5-year-old daughter:

The benefits of beekeeping in California

California is one of the best places to be a beekeeper. For one, the state comes top of the pile in terms of educational opportunities and support for beekeepers.* The high number of beekeeping associations in the sunshine state makes it easy to find a mentor and beekeeping buddies.

Also, California’s climate, diverse flora, and high levels of agriculture lead to a long honey season, intense nectar flows and a wide range of foraging opportunities for bees throughout the year. Some of the top foods available to bees include buckwheat, blueberry, sunflowers, lavender, poppies, and rosemary. This wide variety of forage leads to a stunning array of honey flavors. The Flow® harvesting system allows you to harvest one frame at a time and isolate specific floral blooms in your honey.

The pollination services provided by honey bees are crucial to food production in the state. In fact, the almond industry requires millions of bees to be brought to the orchards each year to ensure pollination. In recognition of their essential role, lawmakers in California have introduced bee-friendly limitations on pesticide use. These winged wonders need safe havens and this message is spreading in California.

Can you keep bees in your backyard in California?

Yes, the Flow Hive is perfect for beekeeping in backyards in California. You don’t need acres of space, just a couple of square feet in which to put your hive. The bees will travel in a radius to find food and return to the hive laden with pollen and nectar. Thousands of beekeepers started on their beekeeping journey with a Flow Hive.

Among the advantages of the Flow system is that you don’t need to purchase or store bulky harvesting equipment, as it’s all contained in the hive. The removable side panel window allows you to watch the bees doing their incredible work inside the hive. And our revolutionary harvesting system allows you to taste California’s changing seasons by tapping honey one frame at a time. Watch Helena taste the flavors of her garden as she harvests honey from her Flow Hive.

Not just for the newbees, experienced Californian keepers have also found the Flow Hive to be a wonderful addition to their apiaries. They really appreciate the time and mess saved by the Flow system. And although honey can be harvested without opening the hive, it’s no different from any other form of beekeeping in caring for your bees. You’ll still need to conduct regular brood inspections to make sure the hive is healthy, prepare the hive for winter, and manage your colony's swarming.

The challenges of beekeeping in California

Keeping bees in California is not without its challenges. Unpredictable weather and water shortages can affect the forage available to bees and your bees may require supplemental feeding at times. Wildfires can threaten bees and also reduce their foraging opportunities.

As with beekeeping anywhere, pests and diseases can pose a threat to bee health. All beekeepers need to take precautions and comply with local regulations regarding pest management.

With its widespread agriculture comes a risk of pesticide use that can have a knock-on effect on bee health. Additionally, gardeners spraying lawns and flowers can lead to pesticide exposure for bees. The good news is that California has enacted bee-friendly regulations aimed at protecting bees from harmful chemicals.

Do you need a license to keep bees in California?

It’s necessary to register your beehive with your local County Agricultural Commissioner and also to notify them if you move a hive. Registering your hive helps to prevent the spread of pests and diseases and to coordinate with pesticide users to protect bees from exposure. Hive registration includes providing the name and contact details of the beekeeper.

Each county may have specific restrictions on the number of hives in a location, hive placement, residential use, and so forth. Make sure you familiarize yourself with local regulations before setting up your first beehive. You can register online at Beewhere, where you can also find FAQs on registering and links to local ordinances for specific counties within California.

How do I start beekeeping in California?

A Flow Hive is perfect for getting started and you'll be supported by our knowledgeable team every step of the way. There’s a lot to learn about bee behavior and beekeeping practice, so we have a ton of resources to help out new beekeepers. And as there’s always more to learn, experienced beekeepers also contribute to and benefit from our range of educational materials.

First off, we’ve partnered with the world’s beekeeping experts to create TheBeekeeper.org, an online learning platform for beginner and advanced beekeepers. The course takes you step-by-step from setting up your first hive right through to a deep scientific knowledge of beekeeping. The first month is free, so you can check it out risk-free before diving in.

We also have an extensive FAQ section, tons of free videos on our Youtube and Facebook pages, and a community forum to connect with other Flow users. If you still can’t find the answer to your question, you can always contact our friendly support team to clarify any issues.

When it comes to beekeeping, local knowledge is invaluable, so we recommend getting in touch with a beekeeping club near you. California has lots of clubs where you can connect with other keepers and share tips specific to your area.

Feel you’re ready to take the plunge and become a ‘keeper? Our Starter Bundle comes with everything you need to get started, including a fully functioning Flow Hive and essential safety equipment.