{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-4400.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-4400.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-4400.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-4400.html"}],"law_id":66320,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66320,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4400","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 3-483; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-588; 1972, c. 499, \u00a7 3.1-610.1; 1982, c. 100; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apiary” means any place where one or more colonies of bees are kept.\n\t\t“Appliance” means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device used in the handling and manipulating of bees, honey, wax, hives, and hive parts and shall include containers used in transporting, processing, storing, or merchandising bees and bee products.\n\t\t“Bee” means the honeybee, Apis mellifera and genetic variations thereof, at any living stage; and may include other hymenopterous insects that depend on pollen and nectar for food.\n\t\t“Bee diseases” means departures from a sound state of health of bees characterized by visible symptoms including American foulbrood and any other diseases, insects, mites, or bee pests.\n\t\t“Bee equipment” means hives and hive parts including frames, supers, covers, bottom boards, and beekeeping apparel.\n\t\t“Brood comb” means the assemblage of cells containing any living stage of bees at any time prior to their emergence as adults.\n\t\t“Certificate of health” means a state-of-origin document prepared and signed by the State Apiarist or other authorized person declaring the bees, bee equipment, appliances, apiaries, and honey houses to be free of bee diseases.\n\t\t“Colony” means a queenright assemblage of social bees capable of reproducing.\n\t\t“Combless package” means a shipping container for transporting bees or queens.\n\t\t“Entry permit” means a state-of-destination document prepared by the State Apiarist or other authorized person authorizing the entry of bee equipment, appliances, and bees on combs into the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Hive” means a box, skep, barrel, log gum, or other container used as a domicile for bees.\n\t\t“Honey house” means any building where honey for commercial use is extracted, graded, processed, packed, or stored.\n\t\t“Person” means the term as defined in \u00a7 1-230. The term also means any society.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":240809,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apiary” means any place where one or more colonies of bees are kept.\n\t\t“Appliance” means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device used in the handling and manipulating of bees, honey, wax, hives, and hive parts and shall include containers used in transporting, processing, storing, or merchandising bees and bee products.\n\t\t“Bee” means the honeybee, Apis mellifera and genetic variations thereof, at any living stage; and may include other hymenopterous insects that depend on pollen and nectar for food.\n\t\t“Bee diseases” means departures from a sound state of health of bees characterized by visible symptoms including American foulbrood and any other diseases, insects, mites, or bee pests.\n\t\t“Bee equipment” means hives and hive parts including frames, supers, covers, bottom boards, and beekeeping apparel.\n\t\t“Brood comb” means the assemblage of cells containing any living stage of bees at any time prior to their emergence as adults.\n\t\t“Certificate of health” means a state-of-origin document prepared and signed by the State Apiarist or other authorized person declaring the bees, bee equipment, appliances, apiaries, and honey houses to be free of bee diseases.\n\t\t“Colony” means a queenright assemblage of social bees capable of reproducing.\n\t\t“Combless package” means a shipping container for transporting bees or queens.\n\t\t“Entry permit” means a state-of-destination document prepared by the State Apiarist or other authorized person authorizing the entry of bee equipment, appliances, and bees on combs into the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Hive” means a box, skep, barrel, log gum, or other container used as a domicile for bees.\n\t\t“Honey house” means any building where honey for commercial use is extracted, graded, processed, packed, or stored.\n\t\t“Person” means the term as defined in \u00a7 1-230. The term also means any society.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15329,"edition_id":1,"name":"Beekeeping","identifier":"44","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13102,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:00","permalink":{"id":196487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15329,"identifier":"44","token":"3.2\/III\/44","url":"\/3.2\/III\/44\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13102,"edition_id":1,"name":"Production and Sale of Agricultural Products","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":195443,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13102,"identifier":"III","token":"3.2\/III","url":"\/3.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66320,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4400","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-4400\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4400","metadata":false},{"id":58358,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4401","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board","url":"\/3.2-4401\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4401","metadata":false},{"id":82508,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4402","catch_line":"State Apiarist","url":"\/3.2-4402\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4402","metadata":false},{"id":69793,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4403","catch_line":"Duties of beekeepers","url":"\/3.2-4403\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4403","metadata":false},{"id":73762,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4404","catch_line":"Duty to notify the State Apiarist of diseased bees","url":"\/3.2-4404\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4404","metadata":false},{"id":61000,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4405","catch_line":"Entry permit required to bring bees and used bee equipment into Commonwealth; inspection","url":"\/3.2-4405\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4405","metadata":false},{"id":78033,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4406","catch_line":"Certificate of health to accompany bees in combless packages brought into Commonwealth","url":"\/3.2-4406\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4406","metadata":false},{"id":62090,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4407","catch_line":"Certificate of health to accompany bill of sale","url":"\/3.2-4407\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4407","metadata":false},{"id":60868,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4408","catch_line":"Rearing package bees and queens for sale","url":"\/3.2-4408\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4408","metadata":false},{"id":63298,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4409","catch_line":"Right of entry for inspection and enforcement","url":"\/3.2-4409\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4409","metadata":false},{"id":66909,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4410","catch_line":"Measures to eradicate and control bee diseases; appeal","url":"\/3.2-4410\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4410","metadata":false},{"id":63833,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4411","catch_line":"Abandoned apiaries","url":"\/3.2-4411\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4411","metadata":false},{"id":86491,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4411.1","catch_line":"Apiaries; limitation on liability","url":"\/3.2-4411.1\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4411.1","metadata":false},{"id":75781,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4412","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/3.2-4412\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4412","metadata":false},{"id":72033,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4413","catch_line":"Costs of administering chapter","url":"\/3.2-4413\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4413","metadata":false},{"id":59525,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4414","catch_line":"Violation of chapter","url":"\/3.2-4414\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4414","metadata":false},{"id":76448,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4415","catch_line":"Beehive Grant Fund","url":"\/3.2-4415\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4415","metadata":false},{"id":63371,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4416","catch_line":"Beehive distribution program","url":"\/3.2-4416\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4416","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":58358,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4401","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board","url":"\/3.2-4401\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4401","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-4400\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 702; in 1972, chapter 499; in 1982, chapter 100; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64683,"section_number":"29.1-352","catch_line":"Damage stamp program established; purpose; intent","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-352\/"},{"id":76364,"section_number":"29.1-355","catch_line":"Disposition of funds","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-355\/"},{"id":85347,"section_number":"54.1-3303","catch_line":"Prescriptions to be issued and drugs to be dispensed for medical or therapeutic purposes only","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3303\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":56662,"section_number":"1-230","catch_line":"Person","order_by":null,"url":"\/1-230\/"}],"permalink":{"id":196489,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66320,"identifier":"3.2-4400","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4400","url":"\/3.2-4400\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-4400\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4400","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-4400","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apiary<\/span>” means any place where one or more colonies of bees<\/span> are kept.\n\t\t“Appliance<\/span>” means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device used in the handling and manipulating of bees<\/span>, honey, wax, hives<\/span>, and hive<\/span> parts and shall include containers used in transporting, processing, storing, or merchandising bees<\/span> and bee products.\n\t\t“Bee” means the honeybee, Apis mellifera and genetic variations thereof, at any living stage; and may include other hymenopterous insects that depend on pollen and nectar for food.\n\t\t“Bee diseases<\/span>” means departures from a sound state of health of bees<\/span> characterized by visible symptoms including American foulbrood and any other diseases, insects, mites, or bee pests.\n\t\t“Bee equipment<\/span>” means hives<\/span> and hive<\/span> parts including frames, supers, covers, bottom boards<\/span>, and beekeeping apparel.\n\t\t“Brood comb<\/span>” means the assemblage of cells containing any living stage of bees<\/span> at any time prior to their emergence as adults.\n\t\t“Certificate of health<\/span>” means a state-of-origin document prepared and signed by the State Apiarist or other authorized person<\/span> declaring the bees<\/span>, bee equipment<\/span>, appliances<\/span>, apiaries, and honey houses<\/span> to be free of bee diseases<\/span>.\n\t\t“Colony<\/span>” means a queenright assemblage of social bees<\/span> capable of reproducing.\n\t\t“Combless package<\/span>” means a shipping container for transporting bees<\/span> or queens.\n\t\t“Entry permit<\/span>” means a state-of-destination document prepared by the State Apiarist or other authorized person<\/span> authorizing the entry of bee equipment<\/span>, appliances<\/span>, and bees<\/span> on combs into the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Hive<\/span>” means a box, skep, barrel, log gum, or other container used as a domicile for bees<\/span>.\n\t\t“Honey house<\/span>” means any building where honey for commercial use is extracted, graded, processed, packed, or stored.\n\t\t“Person<\/span>” means the term as defined in \u00a7 1-230<\/a>. The term also means any society.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 3.2-4400)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apiary” means any place where one or more colonies of bees are\nkept.\n\t\t“Appliance” means any apparatus, tool, machine, or other device\nused in the handling and manipulating of bees, honey, wax, hives, and hive parts\nand shall include containers used in transporting, processing, storing, or\nmerchandising bees and bee products.\n\t\t“Bee” means the honeybee, Apis mellifera and genetic variations\nthereof, at any living stage; and may include other hymenopterous insects that\ndepend on pollen and nectar for food.\n\t\t“Bee diseases” means departures from a sound state of health of\nbees characterized by visible symptoms including American foulbrood and any\nother diseases, insects, mites, or bee pests.\n\t\t“Bee equipment” means hives and hive parts including frames,\nsupers, covers, bottom boards, and beekeeping apparel.\n\t\t“Brood comb” means the assemblage of cells containing any living\nstage of bees at any time prior to their emergence as adults.\n\t\t“Certificate of health” means a state-of-origin document prepared\nand signed by the State Apiarist or other authorized person declaring the bees,\nbee equipment, appliances, apiaries, and honey houses to be free of bee\ndiseases.\n\t\t“Colony” means a queenright assemblage of social bees capable of\nreproducing.\n\t\t“Combless package” means a shipping container for transporting\nbees or queens.\n\t\t“Entry permit” means a state-of-destination document prepared by\nthe State Apiarist or other authorized person authorizing the entry of bee\nequipment, appliances, and bees on combs into the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Hive” means a box, skep, barrel, log gum, or other container used\nas a domicile for bees.\n\t\t“Honey house” means any building where honey for commercial use is\nextracted, graded, processed, packed, or stored.\n\t\t“Person” means the term as defined in \u00a7 1-230. The term also\nmeans any society.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 3-483; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-588; 1972, c. 499, \u00a7\n3.1-610.1; 1982, c. 100; 2008, c. 860.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}