Apiary (Honey Bee) Program

The purpose of the Apiary Program is to prevent the introduction and/or spread of regulated honey bee diseases, parasites, and undesirable genetic material in resident and migratory honey bee colonies, as well as encourage and maintain interstate movement of honey bees for crop pollination and honey production.

On this page:

• Licensing, Importing and Inspection
• Education, Training and Events
• Pollinator Resources
• Swarm Collectors
• Exotic Hornets

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Licensing, Importing and Inspection of Honey Bees

Anyone who keeps honeybees in Maine MUST obtain an apiary license.

• Apiary License Application (DOCX) / License Application (PDF)
• Fee Schedule (PDF)

Anyone who imports bees into Maine MUST submit an Import Notification of Bees form, a health certificate from the State of origin and pay the appropriate fee.

• Import Notification of Bees (PDF)
• Fee Schedule (PDF)

Honey bee colonies in Maine may be inspected for regulated diseases and parasites. Inspections of colonies may also be performed upon request.

• Hive Inspection Request Form
  

Education, Training and Events

The Apiary program educates beekeepers, growers and the general public about bee keeping techniques and the value of honeybees to Maine agriculture.

Fact Sheets

Honey Bee Seasonal Management +

Honey Bee Pests and Diseases +

Native Bees +

Webinars

• Varroa Mite IPM: Four-Part Series for a Healthy Hive Webinar - Jen Lund (Maine State Apiarist) and Kim Skyrm (Massachusetts Chief Apiary Inspector) take a deep dive into managing Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Join them in this multiple part webinar series where they discuss Varroa mite biology and life history, available and effective mite management tools, how to create a dynamic Varroa mite IPM plan, and a demonstration on the steps involved in performing an alcohol wash to make sure you get an accurate count.

Pollinator Resources

• Maine Pollinator Protection Plan (Oct 2017) (PDF)
• University of Maine Blueberry and Pollination Fact Sheets
• Maine Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification
• Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine (PDF)
• USDA NRCS Pollinator Biology and Habitat Report (PDF)
• Maine Bumblebee Atlas

List of Swarm Collectors (as of April 2025)