We are keeping hives much closer together than you would find in nature. However, hives can prosper when placed very close together as long as the beekeeper is consistent with keeping the yard clean and watching for robbing. A good rule of thumb is 2 feet of clearance space on each side of a hive whenever possible. This reduces the episodes of "drifting" when foragers return to a different hive. But, the biggest advantage of this spacing is giving the beekeeper room to work on all sides of the hive when needed.