Title 3.2, Title 3.2. Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food

Any person in the Commonwealth who is aware of diseased bees in his or other apiaries shall immediately notify the State Apiarist, giving the exact location of the diseased bees and other information as requested.

A. No person shall bring any bees on combs, empty used combs, used hives, or other used apiary appliances into the Commonwealth without first receiving an entry permit to do so from the State Apiarist. Entry permits shall be issued only upon receipt of satisfactory proof that the…

All bees in combless packages transported into the Commonwealth shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by the proper official of the place of origin.

No bees on combs, hives, used beekeeping equipment with combs, or appliances may be offered for sale without a certificate of health prepared by the State Apiarist for each specifically identifiable item. The certificate of health must accompany each bill of sale.

A. No person shall rear package bees or queens for sale without first applying to the State Apiarist for inspection at least once during each summer season. B. Upon the discovery of any bee diseases, the rearer or seller shall at once cease to ship bees from affected apiaries unt…

The Commissioner may enter any private or public premises during business hours, except private dwellings. The Commissioner shall have access to all apiaries and other places where bees, combs, beekeeping equipment, and appliances may be kept.

A. The State Apiarist shall examine or inspect the bees in the Commonwealth whenever they are suspected of being infected with bee diseases and, on request, shall inspect bees to be sold or to be transported interstate. B. If bees are found to be infected with bee diseases, the S…

The State Apiarist may deem an apiary to be abandoned if: (i) the bees and hives show evidence of a period of neglect exceeding one year; and (ii) the owner of the apiary has not been identified through a reasonable search of available records. If the State Apiarist deems an apia…

A. Any person owning or operating an apiary that is not located on his own property shall post the name and address of the owner or operator in a conspicuous place in the apiary. B. A person who operates an apiary in a reasonable manner, in compliance with local zoning restrictio…

Normal costs of administering this law shall be borne by the Commonwealth. Costs for services, products, or articles beyond the scope of the law are reimbursable and payable to the Treasurer of Virginia by the persons affected. The Commissioner shall promptly credit reimbursement…

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or any order or regulation issued hereunder, or interfering in any way with the Commissioner in the discharge of his duties is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

From such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting, permanent fund to be known as the Beehive Grant Fund (the Fund), to be administ…

Any individual registered with the Department as a beekeeper may apply to the Department for no more than three basic beehive units per year per household. The Department shall establish guidelines setting forth the components of a basic beehive unit and the general requirements …