Yes, beekeeping is legal in France, but subject to strict sanitary, environmental, and municipal regulations enforced by the Direction Départementale de la Protection des Populations (DDPP) and Chambres d’Agriculture. Compliance with the 2026 EU Bee Health Regulation (EU 2026/114) is mandatory, requiring hive registration and disease surveillance.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in France
- Mandatory Registration: All beekeepers must declare their hives annually via the Plateforme de Signalement des Ruchettes (PSR) or MesDémarches, with deadlines enforced by the Ministère de l’Agriculture. Failure to register risks fines up to €750 under Article L. 214-1 of the Rural Code.
- Disease Control: Hives must undergo Varroa destructor treatment and comply with AFSSA (now ANSES) protocols. Movement restrictions apply during Aethina tumida or Tropilaelaps outbreaks, as per Order of 28 June 2002.
- Local Bylaws: Municipalities may impose additional rules via Plan Local d’Urbanisme (PLU), including hive placement limits (typically 5–10 per hectare) and buffer zones near schools or hospitals, as seen in Paris’ Arrêté Municipal 2023-142.