Santa Barbara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- no injuring, taking, killing or molesting birds (Sec. 26-26)
- Applies to
- county recreation areas in unincorporated county
- Permit exception
- community services director or deputy director
- Penalty
- infraction or misdemeanor, DA's discretion (Sec. 26-6)
- Enforced by
- community services staff & park rangers
Summary
Sec. 26-26 makes it unlawful to injure, take, kill or molest any bird, or disturb its habitat, within a Santa Barbara County park, beach, trail or other recreation area in the unincorporated county, unless the community services director or a deputy director issues a permit. The same section also protects other wildlife.
Sec. 26-26. - Injuring, killing or molesting animals. No person shall injure, take, kill or molest any bird, mammal, reptile or other animal or disturb its habitat in any county recreation area except by permit of the director of community services, or deputy director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 26's wildlife protection rule sits in Article I alongside the county's other resource-protection provisions for county recreation areas: county parks, beaches, trails, open space, Lake Cachuma and beach-access easements in the unincorporated county. Sec. ' The same article also protects plant life: Sec. 26-25 bars gathering flowers, foliage, berries, seeds or cutting, digging up or transplanting any tree, shrub, plant or turf within a recreation area without a director's permit, and Sec. 26-37 separately bans bringing firearms, air-powered or spring-propelled weapons, slingshots, bows or crossbows into a county park or beach, with a narrow exception for bow fishing under a director-issued permit.
Community services department personnel enforce Sec. 26-26 under the general authority granted by Sec. 5 can issue citations for violations they witness. Because the rule applies only within county recreation areas, it does not reach private land or the separate park systems run by Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria or Buellton.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 26-26 is prosecuted under Chapter 26's general penalty at Sec. 26-6: the district attorney can file it as either an infraction or a misdemeanor, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. The county can also pursue administrative remedies under Chapter 24A in addition to any criminal charge, and violators can be ejected from the recreation area under Sec. 26-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to disturb birds in a Santa Barbara County park?
Does this bird protection rule apply on private property?
What's the penalty for harming wildlife in a county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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