Can nuisance carpenter bees be 'relocated'?

You cannot relocate carpenter bees. They are not a hive, and do not answer to a queen.

If you’re worried about relocating these bees because you’ve heard that bees are now federally protected, don’t worry….carpenter bees are not included. If you want to avoid killing them because you feel sorry for the little guys, please understand that the reason they are drilling holes is that they are nesting. Each perfectly round hole holds a larvae, who also eat your house later on. And, if you don’t take action by killing the adults, the excessive damage done to your house won’t be covered by your homeowner’s policy.

Get a can of WD-40, put the red straw into the nozzle, and shoot the oil as far into the hole as you can reach it. It costs less than $5, and can save you thousands.

I can’t say I’ve heard of “friendly” ways to get rid of carpenter bees. If it’s only under the gutters you can replace the wood with vinyl or treated lumber (I’ve only heard this works, no first hand exp) to stop them from coming back. Fresh paint always seemed to work for my parents. I’m not really sure you can avoid killing them though once they’re established. Just as an alternative to spraying you might try vacuuming them out.

Prevention is the main approach to managing carpenter bees. If possible, susceptible exterior parts of a building should be constructed out of hardwoods not normally attacked by the bees for nests. On all buildings, fill depressions and cracks in wood surfaces so they are less attractive. Paint or varnish exposed surfaces regularly to reduce weathering. Fill unoccupied holes with steel wool and caulk to prevent their reuse. Wait until after bees have emerged before filling the tunnels. Once filled, paint or varnish the repaired surfaces. Protect rough areas, such as ends of timbers, with wire screening or metal flashing. Source

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Here is some good info on them.

They like soft woods so if you can perhaps find a wood that is softer than what your house is made of, perhaps they would prefer the sacrificial wood to that of your house.

They don’t eat wood. I seem to recall an apiarist friend that would dip pieces of wood into some of the honey he makes and use that as a lure to trap and relocate them.

Carpenter bees are good! I commend you for not wanting to destroy them – don’t listen to the people that say kill them. @syz is right on about prevention, but once you have an infestation, you’ll probably want to try one of the two methods above (or both) to get rid of them.

A sexual attractant works best. The behavior is is nesting one, so now is the time to get the carpenter bee pheremones working for you.

@lilikoi Why are they good? What do they benefit?

@lilikoi They are pollinators of large flowers in particular. If you try to grow squash, pumpkins and the like, the carpenter bee is going to be your go to pollinator.
However, they are good because they are a living creature with a unique DNA and we share the planet with them. They benefit themselves, just as each one of us looks out for ourselves and our survival.