The Texas Apiary Inspection Service operates under the authority of Section 131 of the Texas Agricultural Code. Section 131 authorizes the adoption of rules which are listed under Chapter 71 of the Texas Administrative Code.
If a beekeeper suspects that within their colonies they have a reportable disease or pest, then that beekeeper is legally required to notify Texas Apiary Inspection Service. TAIS will work with the beekeeper to identify whether the pest or disease is present and will guide the beekeeper through the subsequent steps to mitigate the risk to the beekeeping industry.
REPORTABLE PESTS & DISEASES:
The beekeeping laws in Texas are limited. The state of Texas does not require a beekeeper to register. If bees are brought into the state from outside the border, then the beekeeper must have a health certificate and an interstate permit ($200). The health certificate can originate from the same state as the bees, but the Texas interstate permit is required. TAIS performs health inspections on honey bees on an as needed basis. Commercial beekeeping operations are required to have a health inspection from the state agency upon movement across state lines. Small-scale operations can request a health inspection for a fee ($100). The health certificate is valid for one year after the date of inspection.
Beekeeper registration may be requested at any time but is only valid through August 31 of the same fiscal year. The registration fee is $35.
In order to legally perform bee removal in the state of Texas, a beekeeper must maintain a current beekeeper registration with TAIS. The registration is an exemption from the structural pest control section of the Texas Occupation Code, Chapter 1951.056. These beekeepers also have the option to be published on the Bee Removal tab on the TAIS website (https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/bee-removal/). TAIS maintains the list as a public service.
Beekeepers that sell Queen Bees and attendants, package bees, colonies, and nuclei must provide a health certificate or an affidavit certifying the health of the honey bees. If the beekeeper does not obtain a health certificate from TAIS then the beekeeper must provide an affidavit with every sale. The affidavit is a self-generated signed and notarized statement that to the beekeeper’s knowledge the bees are free of disease.
Identification is required on all equipment that is not located at the beekeeper’s primary residence. The requirements are that the identification be clearly and permanently marked in one-inch letters or numbers on each end of the hive body. A weatherproof sign in the apiary containing contact information for the apiary manager is also sufficient. TAIS offers an Apiary Equipment Brand for a fee of $10 and that brand may be transferred. Another note on equipment: hives must have movable frames.
If you would like to look up the Texas Agriculture Code directly from the State Legislature website, please follow this link: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
If you would like to look up the Texas Administrative Code directly from the Texas Secretary of State website, please use the following link: https://www.sos.texas.gov/tac/index.shtml.
Other regulations that may apply to beekeepers can be found in the local city or county ordinances. Additionally, homeowner’s associations could have rules associated with beekeeping. Here is a website that can help locate the local government information: https://guides.sll.texas.gov/neighbor-law/backyard-animals
Feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns. Our main office phone number is (979)321-5827 or click the Give Us a Buzz button.
