Cincinnati, OH Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 701-15, 'Injuring Birds,' bars a person from killing, wounding, maiming, or injuring a bird in any manner, or firing or throwing a gun, pistol, or other deadly weapon, or a stone, arrow, or other missile at a bird. It separately bars breaking, tearing down, or destroying a bird's nest or its eggs or other contents, and bars catching, capturing, trapping, netting, or snaring a bird, or pursuing a bird with intent to catch or injure it. The prohibition applies broadly to wild birds but expressly excludes 'tame birds actually in possession of, or owned by any person', so a kept pet bird isn't covered.

The section also carries its own built-in carve-out for city enforcement: it states that nothing in §701-15 applies to any officer or employee of the City of Cincinnati acting under §701-17, the separate provision authorizing the city manager to use necessary means to destroy starlings, sparrows, pigeons, rodents, or other birds or animals found to be a nuisance. That pairing means Cincinnati's code simultaneously protects wild birds from private harm while reserving the city's own authority to abate nuisance bird populations through official channels.