Apiary Registration
Hello Rhode Island Beekeepers,
The new DAFE Portal for Apiary registrations has a new yearly renewal date of April 30 and is now open.
If you registered your Apiary last year, your registration will now expire on April 30, and will open for the year in case you receive new colonies at any point on a yearly basis.
The renewal of your Apiary registration is available in your DAFE Application Portal account under "My Registrations" at the top of the home page.
If you did not register in 2025, you will need to create a new registration. If you are a new beekeeper, you will need to create a profile on the portal and start the Apiary registration process.
If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Hertzwig at 401-537-4279 or tyler.hertzwig@dem.ri.gov.
Thank you and happy Beekeeping!
Honey bees play an important role in our food system by providing essential pollination services for both food and forage crops. To help prevent the spread of some pretty tough diseases, all hives in Rhode Island, whether commercial or private, are required to be registered. This enables the Department to keep a complete list of all beekeepers and allows the Department to contact beekeepers when bee health issues arise.
Primary Resources
- Apiary Registrations, Apiary Health Inspection Requests, and Apiary Entry Permit Applications are available using DEM's Online Permit Application Portal
- RI General Law: Animal Husbandry/Apiculture
For questions regarding Apiary Registration, please contact Tyler Hertzwig or 401-537-4279.
For beekeeping guidance, please visit the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association's website
For more information about bees in Rhode Island, please visit Rhode Island College's Bee Education Website.