American Foulbrood Disease
American Foulbrood is a serious disease affecting honey bees that is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. Beekeepers are required to monitor for this disease. If it is found, it must be mitigated so eliminate the spread to other hives.
Beekeeper Registration
Whether you are a hobbyist or commercial beekeeper, all beekeepers in possession of an apiary are required to register with BeeWhere annually. If you have any questions or need help, please contact our office.
Pesticide Notification
Registered beekeepers may request notice of certain pesticide application that occur near their hives. Once a beekeeper registers and opts in to the notification system, pesticide applicators intending to apply pesticides toxic to bees to blossoming plants must check for colonies within a one mile radius of the proposed application site.
Theft Prevention
The BeeSafe program provides uniform communication among counties to reduce apiary theft. The Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture receives notification from the California Department of Food and Agriculture when beekeepers report stolen hives or equipment. Agricultural biologists also survey for unregistered hives and inspect for proper identification of apiaries. Beekeepers are encouraged to report missing hives to our office.