*** UPDATE BELOW***
The Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) is the sole agency responsible for regulating the apiary industry of Texas. TAIS is a state agency administered under AgriLife Research, a part of the Texas A&M university system. Honey bees are a vital part of the agricultural industry here in Texas and nationwide. Pollination by honey bees provides billions of dollars in added value to crops here in the United States. In order to ensure the health and safety of the industry, TAIS routinely inspects commercial operations for pest and pathogens and permits the movement of hives.
The TAIS web site is designed to provide answers to common regulatory and beekeeping questions. To facilitate finding information, we have broken up the site into two major categories. The “For Beekeepers” section has information geared toward beekeepers of all levels. The “General Public” section provides broader information about bees and beekeeping. If you have specific questions please use the “Give Us A Buzz” icon above or you can find our contact information below.
***UPDATE***
Changes coming September 1st, 2023 to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service. The Texas Beekeeper’s Association (TBA) has worked for several years to update Chapter 131, “The Bee Laws.”
HB 4538 passed in our recent legislative session and will take effect September 1st, 2023. Many thanks from Texas beekeepers to Representative Kyle Kacal and State Senator Morgan LaMantia for their work in making this happen.
ALL REGISTRATIONS WILL BE NULL AND VOID ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023!
Registration will not be required, but if requested, a $35 fee will be assessed. Registration will be valid through the end of the fiscal year and must be renewed each September 1st.
Intrastate permitting will be repealed. No longer will there be restrictions on moving bees across county lines. Beekeepers doing live removals will still be required to pay the $35 fee for the annual registration, but it will be a different form as opposed to the Removal Transportation Form.
Apiary definition will have “six or more” struck.
Beekeeper – means a person who owns, leases, possesses, controls, or manages one or more colonies of bees for any personal or commercial use.
In situations involving Ag Valuation/Exemption, the beekeeper and/or landowner can decide who should register.
The law changes the registration to “beekeeper” registration, not “apiary” registration. The focus will still have space to place apiary location(s).
Beekeepers moving bees into and out of Texas will no longer have to do separate Importation and Exportation permits. One Interstate permit will replace these. This permit will be an annual fiscal year (September 1st – August 31st) operational permit with a fee of $250. Beekeepers can then come and go with bees.
The fee for a requested inspection will increase to $100.
We ask patience of everyone as we make these changes. Feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Bill Baxter (Interim Chief Apiary Inspector)
And
Hannah Blackburn (Apiary Inspector)
