Good morning Maryly,
I am sorry about the confusion.
This is a state (CDFA) fee, not a county of Alameda fee. The county assists in administering the statewide Apiary program.
The notice was sent to inform apiarists of the 2025 changes in the state regulations and the new fee structure.
Fees are collected to protect and support the apiary industry at large.
Previously Alameda County waived fees for all apiary owners. This was indicated by an UNPAID or WAIVED status in BeeWhere. In our county, Alameda, UNPAID implied WAIVED.
With new regulations in place all apiary owners, regardless of size, will pay a fee directly through the BeeWhere portal which goes directly to CDFA. The fee structure is based on the number of hives as outlined in the flyer.
I hope this provides more clarity.
~Christina “Chris” Craft
Agricultural and Standards Investigator III
Alameda County Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department
3575 Greenville Road Livermore, CA 94550
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message including attachments, if any, is intended only for the person(s) or entity(ies) to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and /or privileged material. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
Well, that’s confusing.
First you say that Alameda County does NOT waive the fee, and then you say
that Alameda County does not collect any fees!
Another confusing thing, is that my prior registrations say “Not Paid”
Why not say “no fee needed” so I won’t feel like a scofflaw!
Alameda County does not waive the fee for backyard beekeepers or hobbyists.
Registration fees are paid directly to the California Department of Food and Agriculture through the BeeWhere portal. Alameda County does not collect any fees.
Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.
Agricultural and Standards Investigator III
Alameda County Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department
3575 Greenville Road Livermore, CA 94550
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message including attachments, if any, is intended only for the person(s) or entity(ies) to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and /or privileged material. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
** This email was sent from an external source. If you do not know the sender, do not click on links or attachments. **