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 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.
***UPDATE***
Changes were made September 1st, 2023 to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service. The Texas Beekeeper’s Association (TBA) worked for several years to update Chapter 131, “The Bee Laws.”
HB 4538 passed in the 88th legislative session and took 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.
Registration is 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 year after September 1st.
Intrastate permitting has been repealed. There are no longer 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 has had “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 form 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 across state lines.
The fee for a requested health inspection will increase to $100.
Feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns.
