Free Bee Removal in Sacramento, CA
The Bee Conservatory provides free, humane bee swarm removal and relocation in Sacramento and surrounding Sacramento County communities. No pesticides. Just safe rescue.
What bee removal looks like in Sacramento, CA
Sacramento's oldest neighborhoods — Land Park, East Sacramento, Curtis Park, and Midtown — are built on tree-lined grids of 1910s–1940s Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revivals, and Victorians with wood siding, original chimneys, and hollow wall cavities. Older homes like these have the kinds of hollow walls honey bee colonies can move into. The city's dense urban canopy of valley oaks, sycamores, elms, and magnolias is also the region's biggest swarm-catching resource: clusters regularly drop on porch railings, fence posts, and patio furniture in April and May. On the newer side of town — Pocket-Greenhaven, parts of Natomas — 1980s–2000s stucco construction creates a different pattern, with colonies slipping in through weep holes and gable vents and going unnoticed for months.
Common situations in Sacramento County
- Established wall colonies in 1920s–40s Craftsman and Victorian homes in East Sac, Land Park, and Curtis Park
- Swarm clusters in mature valley oak, sycamore, and magnolia street trees across the urban core
- Colonies entering stucco weep holes and gable vents in Pocket-Greenhaven and newer tract homes
- Secondary swarm drops on porch railings, mailboxes, and patio umbrellas in walkable Midtown blocks
Who regulates beehives in Sacramento
We handle live removal. For hive registration or the rules on keeping bees in Sacramento, these public sources are the ones to check. Rules change, so confirm with the office before you act.
Sacramento County office
Sacramento County Agricultural CommissionerIts apiary program covers hive registration and takes complaints about beehives.
Rule on keeping bees
Sacramento City Code Section 9.44.330Inside Sacramento city limits, no more than two beehives per parcel are allowed unless the property is zoned A or A-OS.
We protect bees. Not exterminate them.
We're a nonprofit working to protect bees, not exterminate them. We remove and relocate live bees for people in Sacramento and across the Greater Sacramento region, and donations help cover the cost.
Free Live Removal
Live bee removal is free. If a colony is inside a wall or other structure, we'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts.
Timing
Call us and we'll tell you when we can get there.
Humane Relocation
We move live bees to a new home instead of killing them.
How free bee removal works
The Bee Conservatory removes live bees in Sacramento and relocates them instead of killing them. Live bee removal is free. If a colony is inside a wall or other structure, we'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts. Call us and we'll tell you when we can get there.
Report the Swarm
Submit our online form or give us a call. We make it simple.
We Assess
We talk through what you're seeing and tell you when we can get there.
Safe Removal
We carefully remove the bees without spraying pesticides.
New Home
Live bees are moved to a new home away from the site.
Neighborhoods we serve in Sacramento
We provide free bee removal across all of Sacramento, including Capitol Park, Land Park, East Sacramento, Midtown, Curtis Park, Pocket-Greenhaven. If you're in Sacramento County and have found a bee swarm, we can help.
- Capitol Park
- Land Park
- East Sacramento
- Midtown
- Curtis Park
- Pocket-Greenhaven
Common bee situations we see
Bee Swarm on a Branch
Usually a temporary cluster while scouts search for a new home. Typically docile. Report it early, before the bees settle in.
Bees in a Wall or Roof
An established hive that needs careful extraction. We'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts.
Bees in the Ground
Often bumblebees or ground-nesting mining bees. We assess the species and advise on the best approach.
Swarm on Your Property
Don't panic, don't spray. Most swarms are calm. Call us, and we'll tell you when we can get there.
Bee removal in Sacramento: common questions
- Is bee removal really free in Sacramento?
- Live bee removal is free. If a colony is inside a wall or other structure, we'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts. The Bee Conservatory is a nonprofit, and donations help cover this work in Sacramento. Call (916) 404-4294 or report a swarm online.
- How fast can you remove bees in Sacramento?
- Call us and we'll tell you when we can get there. A swarm clustered in the open is usually docile and quicker to collect. An established colony inside a wall, roof, or tree cavity takes more planning.
- What should I do if I find a bee swarm on my property?
- Don't panic and don't spray. A swarm is a temporary cluster of bees searching for a new home, and it is usually calm because the bees have no hive or honey to defend. Keep children and pets away, give the bees space, and report the swarm to us. Spraying pesticide makes the bees defensive and harder to relocate safely.
- Do you remove bees from inside walls and roofs in Sacramento County?
- Yes. A colony inside a wall, roof, soffit, or chimney is more involved than an open swarm, because the cavity may have to be opened to reach the bees and comb. We'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts.
- Should I call an exterminator instead?
- For honey bees, no. Extermination kills a beneficial pollinator, and dead bees and abandoned comb left inside a wall can attract pests and cause odor and staining. Live removal keeps the bees alive. We can also help you tell the difference between bees and wasps before you decide on a course of action.
Resources for Sacramento homeowners
Bees vs Wasps: How to Tell the Difference
Quick identification guide so you know what you're dealing with before calling.
Read articleNeonicotinoids: The Pesticides Killing Sacramento Bees
How common garden chemicals harm pollinators and what safer alternatives exist.
Read articleHow Much Does Bee Removal Cost?
Free live removal compared with what paid companies can charge, and what affects the price.
Read article
We also serve these nearby communities
West Sacramento, CA
A growing community just across the Sacramento River
Carmichael, CA
A mature tree-lined suburb between Sacramento and Fair Oaks
Arden-Arcade, CA
A central Sacramento suburb with established neighborhoods
North Highlands, CA
A community in northern Sacramento County near the former McClellan Air Force Base
Rancho Cordova, CA
A diverse city along the American River in eastern Sacramento County
Natomas, CA
A rapidly growing neighborhood in north Sacramento
Elk Grove, CA
One of the largest cities in the Sacramento metro, south of the capital
Davis, CA
A university town known for biking, sustainability, and UC Davis
Woodland, CA
The county seat of Yolo County, surrounded by rich farmland
Need bee removal in Sacramento?
Don't call an exterminator. Our free service protects both you and the bees.
(916) 404-4294