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ARTICLE · 31 AUGUST 2026

CDFW Issues Comprehensive Additional Guidance For Candidate Bumble Bee Species

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
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California's Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued comprehensive new guidance that dramatically expands protection requirements for four candidate bumble bee species under the California Endangered Species Act. The 2026 guidance introduces strict survey timelines, seasonal construction restrictions, and mandatory onsite biological monitoring that will significantly impact project planning and budgets across the state. Project developers now face narrow construction windows, 60-day advance survey submis

United StatesEnvironment
Jennifer Jeffers
Jennifer Jeffers
Ryan Chen
Ryan Chen

On August 3, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) published Considerations for Conserving Crotch’s Bumble Bee, Franklin’s Bumble Bee, Western Bumble Bee, and Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee (the “2026 Guidance”) — a 44-page guidance document that substantially expands the agency’s prior June 6, 2023, Survey Considerations for CESA Candidate Bumble Bee Species (the “2023 Survey Guidance”). Importantly, the 2026 Guidance does not replace the 2023 Survey Guidance — it supplements it. Projects must comply with both documents, which together establish CDFW’s comprehensive expectations for projects in or near candidate bumble bee habitat.

The four covered bee species are currently candidates for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). CESA strictly prohibits the “take” of all candidate species without explicit take authorization, which typically requires an incidental take permit (ITP).

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