Bees live in any area that has a hollow void of space big enough to put a basketball in.  They prefer small entrance and exit points.  They have been found in:

Soffets of homes
Hollows of trees
Sub floors (between levels of multiple story homes)
Underneath trailers
Water meters
Walls with no insulation
Trunks of abandoned cars

The most common locations being the hollow trees, and soffets, yet, they are found in many different areas.   Typically hives are built within 40-50 feet of a water source.  Whether that be an air conditioning drain, a swimming pool, bird bath, a creek, or even a rain barrel.   There has even been a few instances where a hive was found in an empty and abandoned beer kegs. 

Bees can and will occupy any space that is again, close to water, and have a small entrance for them to come in and out of.  They need to live in a large enclosed area for the protection of  the bees, the honey, the comb, and queen.  However, the entrance needs to be small enough for just a few bees to enter and exit.  This will allow the soldier who protects the “doors” so to speak, to be able to determine who belongs to their hive. Bees are known thieves, and will try to steal from another hive.  They are scent marked by their queen. This allows the soldier to know who belongs and who doesn’t.