Brooklyn Grange Hives: The Urban Apiaries Powering New York’s Honey Scene

• Brooklyn Grange manages 40+ rooftop beehives in the city.
• NYC legalized beekeeping in 2010, sparking a rooftop honey boom.
• Urban honey helps pollinate community gardens and parks.

Brooklyn Grange, headquartered in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, has become an epicenter for urban beekeeping since 2010. Its striking apiaries—spotted atop buildings in Sunset Park, Long Island City, and along the Navy Yard’s industrial expanse—house tens of thousands of bees, pollinating neighborhoods and yielding distinctively floral honey that’s uniquely New York.

Urban honey production is thriving thanks to the city’s diverse flora and a supportive regulatory climate. After New York City lifted its ban on beekeeping in March 2010, local organizations like Brooklyn Grange and NYC Beekeeping began installing hives atop rooftops that overlook brownstones, parks, and avenues. As a result, New Yorkers now consume honey that’s imbued with the flavors of linden, clover, and even rooftop herbs.

For entrepreneurs like Ben Flanner, co-founder of Brooklyn Grange, this is more than a business—it’s community stewardship and environmental intervention. Rooftop beehives bolster biodiversity, support pollinators critical to urban gardens and green spaces, and offer a potent symbol of sustainable city living. Each jar of honey sold at markets from Greenpoint to Union Square tells a story of resilience and urban ingenuity.

The business of urban honey now supports small-batch producers, bespoke culinary shops, and farm-to-table restaurants across New York. Locals and tourists alike seek out “rooftop honey” at institutions like Murray’s Cheese and Brooklyn Larder, eager to taste the literal flavor of the city. Meanwhile, apiary workshops and tours introduce new generations to the vital role of bees—on rooftops and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the main rooftop beehives in Brooklyn located?

Brooklyn Grange operates prominent rooftop apiaries at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and in Sunset Park, with additional hives in Long Island City. Other beehives are maintained by individual beekeepers and smaller organizations atop residential and commercial buildings throughout Brooklyn.

How much honey can one urban rooftop hive produce annually?

Each well-maintained rooftop hive in Brooklyn can yield between 30 and 50 pounds of honey per year. The total production varies based on the strength of the colony, weather, and the variety of flowering plants available in the neighborhood.

Is urban beekeeping allowed and safe in New York City?

Beekeeping was legalized in New York City in 2010. The city requires beekeepers to register their hives and follow safety regulations. Rooftop hives are placed with care to minimize risks to residents and maintain healthy, non-aggressive bee colonies.