Kat,
Most of our customers are backyard beekeepers. Some with large acreages, others with only their rooftop or balcony. The bees don't seem to care either way. In fact, bees tend to do much better in urban city environments than in rural areas (especially those with monoculture). However, the bees won't ask your permission before they use the swimming pool or your neighbor's bird bath as a water source. You can try putting out some of your own water sources in hopes that they'll use them, but it's often fruitless. Aside from water, honey bees want to reproduce. For honey bees, this means swarming, and the swarm will
land wherever it wants, though usually on a tree branch. This is the the time of trial for the urban beekeeper and their neighbors,
should the swarm land on their property. Be sure to check with your neighbors and at least let them know that you're planning to get honey bees. In some cities (like Portland) there are regulations that require one to get approval from neighbors, etc.
When they aren't swarming or drinking water in less than ideal places, honey bees generally go about their business unnoticed by surrounding neighbors. I've got anywhere from 3-15 colonies in my backyard and it is only this time of year (swarm season) where my neighbors receive my bees uninvited.
Best,
Matt
