🐝 Can I keep bees in my garden?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes, you can keep bees in your garden, but the rules are stricter than for chickens: registration with the FAVV is mandatory from your first colony, and you must respect legal distances to neighbours. Every beekeeper must register with the FAVV — it is free, but mandatory from the first hive (for disease surveillance, including American foulbrood). The Rural Code (art. 3) imposes distances: hives less than 20 metres from a dwelling or the public road are not allowed, unless you screen them with a continuous screen at least 2 metres high — then the distance is reduced to 10 metres. In addition, the municipal police regulation may impose extra conditions. As keeper you are moreover strictly liable for damage your bees cause (art. 6.17 of the Civil Code). So place the hive entrance away from passageways and provide a water source, so your bees cause no nuisance.

📋 The rules

Registration with the FAVV is mandatory from your first colony (free, for disease surveillance)
Rural Code (art. 3): hives less than 20 m from a dwelling or the public road are not allowed …
… unless screened by a screen ≥ 2 m high, then the distance is reduced to 10 m
The municipal police regulation may impose additional conditions
As keeper you are strictly liable for damage by your bees (art. 6.17 Civil Code)
Place the hive entrance away from paths and provide water, to avoid nuisance

🔓 Exceptions

With a solid screen 2 m high, the distance drops from 20 to 10 metres
On a large plot of your own, far from homes and the public road, the distance issue does not arise
The municipal police regulations can add further conditions on top of the Rural Code — the two always apply together

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Keeping bees without FASFC registration breaches animal health law and earns a fine, even though registration itself is free. If you do not respect the distances in the Rural Code, a neighbour can go to the justice of the peace and demand that your hives be moved or screened, plus damages — and you move your colonies at your own expense. If your bees cause damage or injury, you as keeper carry the consequences (art. 6.17 Civil Code), with no fault required. Breaching the municipal rules can add an administrative fine of up to 500 euros.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

May I keep bees in my garden?

Yes, but you must register with the FASFC from your very first colony and respect the distances in the Rural Code (20 metres, or 10 metres with a 2 metre high screen). Check the municipal rules as well.

Do I have to register my bees?

Yes. Unlike with chickens, registration with the FASFC is compulsory from the first hive, even for a single colony. It is free and serves to monitor bee diseases such as American foulbrood.

How far from the neighbours must the hives stand?

In principle at least 20 metres from a home or the public road (art. 3 of the Rural Code). If you put up a solid, impenetrable screen at least 2 metres high, that distance drops to 10 metres.

Am I liable if someone gets stung?

As keeper you are liable without fault for the damage your bees cause (art. 6.17 Civil Code). Good placement and proper screening reduce both the risk itself and the argument afterwards.

How do I avoid nuisance for the neighbours?

Point the hive entrance away from paths, terraces and thoroughfares, so the bees do not fly out over the neighbours. Provide a water source of your own too, or your bees will go drinking next door.

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