Swarm lists by state
Ohio
Ohio has a statewide beekeeping framework that runs through the Ohio Department of Agriculture, with annual apiary registration required and inspections handled by the state apiarist and deputies. For swarm help, the Ohio State Beekeepers Association maintains the best statewide public list I found, organized by county, and Ohio State University Extension publishes Ohio-specific bee and swarm guidance. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-909.02?utm_source=openai))
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Swarm or bee removal list
- Official page →
- State beekeepers association
- Ohio State Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- May to July
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in Ohio
County-by-county public swarm and hive-removal finder for OSBA-registered members, plus a statewide swarm-report form. ([ohiostatebeekeepers.org](https://ohiostatebeekeepers.org/swarm-removal/))
Official state association page with education, events, local associations, and the swarm-removal listing. ([ohiostatebeekeepers.org](https://ohiostatebeekeepers.org/))
Official Ohio law on registering apiaries, deadlines, renewal, and posting the assigned identification number. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-909.02?utm_source=openai))
Official inspection and apiary-program rules, including pollination moves into Ohio and disease/Africanized bee procedures. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-901%3A5-55))
Ohio State University Extension guidance for residents on what swarms are and when they can occur in Ohio. ([u.osu.edu](https://u.osu.edu/allenanr/2023/06/21/honey-bee-swarm-season/?utm_source=openai))
Key facts for Ohio
- Ohio apiaries must be registered with ODA by June 1 each year, or within 30 days of getting bees. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-909.02?utm_source=openai))
- Ohio registrations expire on May 31 and must be renewed under the state renewal procedure. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-909.02?utm_source=openai))
- Ohio authorizes the state apiarist and deputies to inspect apiaries and feral or unclaimed honey bee colonies. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/authenticated/901/5/55/901%245-55-04_20250626.pdf?utm_source=openai))
- OSBA’s swarm page lets residents search by county for members who remove swarms or established hives. ([ohiostatebeekeepers.org](https://ohiostatebeekeepers.org/swarm-removal/))
- Ohio rules require notice and corrective-action steps if Africanized honey bees are discovered in an apiary. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-901%3A5-55))
- OSU Extension says Ohio honey bee swarms can occur through the middle of summer. ([u.osu.edu](https://u.osu.edu/allenanr/2023/06/21/honey-bee-swarm-season/?utm_source=openai))
What to do next
- First confirm they are honey bees, then use the OSBA county swarm list or swarm-report form to contact a local remover. ([ohiostatebeekeepers.org](https://ohiostatebeekeepers.org/swarm-removal/))
- If you keep bees in Ohio, register every apiary with ODA and post the assigned identification number at the apiary. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-909.02?utm_source=openai))
- If bees are being moved into Ohio for pollination, notify the department in writing at least seven days before shipment. ([codes.ohio.gov](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-901%3A5-55))
Helpful guides
- What to do when you see a honey bee swarm
- A swarm vs. an established hive: why it matters
- Honey bees, wasps or yellowjackets? How to tell
- Bee cutout and hive removal cost