{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-4403.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-4403.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-4403.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-4403.html"}],"law_id":69793,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69793,"structure_id":15329,"section_number":"3.2-4403","catch_line":"Duties of beekeepers","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 3-497; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-602; 1972, c. 499, \u00a7 3.1-610.10; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"Beekeepers shall:\n\n1\n\nProvide movable frames with combs or foundation in all hives used by them to contain bees, except for short periods, not to exceed the first spring honey flow, and to cause the bees in such hives to construct brood combs in such frames so that any of the frames may be removed from the hive without injuring other combs in such hive; and2\n\nSecurely and tightly close the entrance of any hive in apiaries not free from disease and make the hive tight so that robber bees cannot enter, leave, or obtain honey from the hives as long as the hives remain in a location accessible by honeybees.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":252226,"text":"Beekeepers shall:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":252227,"text":"Provide movable frames with combs or foundation in all hives used by them to contain bees, except for short periods, not to exceed the first spring honey flow, and to cause the bees in such hives to construct brood combs in such frames so that any of the frames may be removed from the hive without injuring other combs in such hive; and","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":252228,"text":"Securely and tightly close the entrance of any hive in apiaries not free from disease and make the hive tight so that robber bees cannot enter, leave, or obtain honey from the hives as long as the hives remain in a location accessible by honeybees.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-4403\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":196501,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69793,"identifier":"3.2-4403","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4403","url":"\/3.2-4403\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-4403\/","token":"3.2\/III\/44\/3.2-4403","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties of beekeepers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-4403","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Beekeepers shall:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Provide movable frames with combs or foundation in all hives<\/span> used by them to contain bees<\/span>, except for short periods, not to exceed the first spring honey flow, and to cause the bees<\/span> in such hives<\/span> to construct brood combs<\/span> in such frames so that any of the frames may be removed from the hive<\/span> without injuring other combs in such hive<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Securely and tightly close the entrance of any hive<\/span> in apiaries not free from disease and make the hive<\/span> tight so that robber bees<\/span> cannot enter, leave, or obtain honey from the hives<\/span> as long as the hives<\/span> remain in a location accessible by honeybees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES OF BEEKEEPERS (\u00a7 3.2-4403)\n\nBeekeepers shall:\n\n1. Provide movable frames with combs or foundation in all hives used by them to\ncontain bees, except for short periods, not to exceed the first spring honey\nflow, and to cause the bees in such hives to construct brood combs in such\nframes so that any of the frames may be removed from the hive without injuring\nother combs in such hive; and\n\n2. Securely and tightly close the entrance of any hive in apiaries not free from\ndisease and make the hive tight so that robber bees cannot enter, leave, or\nobtain honey from the hives as long as the hives remain in a location accessible\nby honeybees.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 3-497; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-602; 1972, c. 499, \u00a7\n3.1-610.10; 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}}