Escambia County, FL Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Designation
- Entire county Santa Rosa Island tract, Sec. 10-52
- Prohibited acts
- Harass, hunt, shoot, trap or kill birds
- Firearm carve-out
- Lawful possession/discharge still allowed
- Penalty
- 2nd-degree misdemeanor, up to $500 and 60 days
- Signage
- Santa Rosa Island Authority posts sanctuary signs
- Prosecuted by
- State attorney, not DAW civil citation
Summary
Escambia County has designated the entire county-jurisdiction portion of Santa Rosa Island a native bird sanctuary under Code Sec. 10-52. Section 10-54 makes it unlawful to harass, hunt, shoot, trap or kill any bird, including waterfowl, there. Violators face prosecution as a second-degree misdemeanor, up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail, under Section 10-55.
The entire area of Santa Rosa Island under the jurisdiction of the county shall be designated as a native bird sanctuary... It shall be unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect birds including waterfowl, located on those parts of Santa Rosa Island within the jurisdiction of the county. However, this prohibition shall not restrict the possession or discharge of a firearm within the Santa Rosa Island Bird Sanctuary, provided that such activity is otherwise permissible under state and federal law... Any person who shall violate any provision of this article may be prosecuted for a violation of this article by the state attorney in the same manner as a misdemeanor in the second degree, and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 60 days or by both a fine and imprisonment pursuant to F.S. §§ 775.08, 775.081, 775.082, and 775.083.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 10, article II, adopted as the 'Santa Rosa Island Native Bird Sanctuary Ordinance' under Section 10-51, designates the entire area of Santa Rosa Island under Escambia County's jurisdiction as a native bird sanctuary under Section 10-52. Section 10-53 directs the Santa Rosa Island Authority to erect signs at entrances to the county-jurisdiction area marking the sanctuary designation. The operative prohibition is Section 10-54: it is unlawful to 'harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect birds including waterfowl' anywhere within the sanctuary.
The ordinance carves out one specific exception: it does not restrict possessing or discharging a firearm within the sanctuary, provided that activity is otherwise lawful under state and federal law, so the ban targets bird-harming conduct specifically rather than firearms generally. S. Sec. 083, with each incident charged as a separate offense. This sits alongside the county's ordinary chapter 10 animal-cruelty and DAW enforcement provisions but is prosecuted through the state attorney's office rather than through DAW's civil-infraction fee schedule.
Violations & Fines
Harassing, hunting, shooting, trapping or killing a bird, including waterfowl, anywhere in the county-jurisdiction portion of Santa Rosa Island is prosecuted by the state attorney as a second-degree misdemeanor under Section 10-55, punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, per F.S. Sec. 775.08 and 775.081-.083. Each bird taken or each incident is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is all of Santa Rosa Island a bird sanctuary?
Can I hunt or trap birds on Santa Rosa Island?
What is the penalty for violating the bird sanctuary ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Escambia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Escambia County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.