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📍 City Guide — Nashville, TN

Nashville Metro Backyard Beekeeping Ordinance

Nashville permits up to 4 honey bee colonies in residential zones with a use permit and a 25-foot setback (or flyway fence alternative). Here's the complete Nashville bee ordinance, Tennessee state registration, and what Nashville's strong beekeeping community offers new apiarists.

Quick Summary
Hive limit: 4 colonies  ·  City permit: Use permit required  ·  State registration: Required (TN Dept of Agriculture)  ·  Setback: 25 ft from property line OR flyway fence  ·  Code: Metro Nashville Code § 17.16.030

Nashville's Beekeeping Framework

Metro Nashville Code § 17.16.030 includes beekeeping as a conditionally permitted accessory use in residential zones, with up to 4 managed honey bee colonies allowed per lot. A use permit from Metro Nashville Planning is required — the same permit type (and application process) used for backyard chickens, with the addition of a hive siting sketch showing flyway management.

Nashville's Middle Tennessee location means mild winters (rarely below 10°F), a long foraging season, and excellent native plant diversity. Nashville-area beekeepers benefit from sourwood, tulip poplar, clover, and late-season goldenrod flows that support strong, productive colonies.

Key Rules

  • Up to 4 honey bee colonies per residential lot
  • A use permit from Metro Nashville Planning is required
  • 25-foot setback from all property lines — OR — a 6-foot flyway fence between hive entrance and the nearest property line within 25 feet
  • An on-site water source must be provided within the hive area
  • Tennessee state registration required (TDA Plant Industries Division)
  • Annual hive maintenance to prevent swarming required

Tennessee State Registration

Tennessee requires registration of all managed honey bee colonies with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Plant Industries Division:

  • Register at tn.gov/agriculture → Plant Industries → Apiary
  • Fee: Free for hobby beekeepers under 10 colonies
  • Annual renewal required
  • Registration allows access to TDA apiary inspection services

Frequently Asked Questions

Nashville's urban growth has brought many transplants from cities with no beekeeping culture — and many from cities where beekeeping is common. The Middle Tennessee Beekeepers Association (mtba.info) runs an extensive new-beekeeper program and maintains a neighbor education resource. Proactive neighbor notification (using the neighbor letter template on this site) is particularly effective in Nashville's newer residential developments where bee expectations haven't been established.
The application process is the same (Metro Nashville Planning, same form), but the site plan requirements differ — bee applications need to show hive placement, entrance direction, and either the 25-ft setback from all property lines or the flyway fence location. The fee is the same (~$150 CUP fee). The planning staff reviewer may ask more specific questions about your flyway management plan.
Middle Tennessee has an excellent honey bee forage season. The main spring flow (tulip poplar, late April through May) can be prolific — strong colonies may produce 50–80 lbs in a good tulip poplar year. A secondary fall flow from goldenrod (August–September) extends the season. Nashville's mild winters mean colonies overwinter with less difficulty than northern cities, though Varroa management through fall is critical.

Related Guides

CityNashville Chicken RulesNashville's chicken CUP process.NationalBeehive Ordinances NationallyHow Nashville compares.ToolHive Space CalculatorCheck Nashville's setback compliance.

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Disclaimer: Ordinances change frequently. Always verify current rules with your local planning department before acquiring any animals.