Fresno County, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Fresno County Code § 13.16.030(F)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 6 months jail
- Exception
- Authorized county predator-control agents
- Excluded area
- Courthouse Park (separate Ch. 13.20)
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Works and Planning
Summary
Fresno County bans killing, wounding, chasing or capturing any wild bird or animal in county parks and recreation areas under Code Section 13.16.030(F). The rule covers all county park land except Courthouse Park, with a narrow carve-out for authorized county predator-control agents, and violators face the county's default misdemeanor penalty.
F.Kill, wound, chase or capture any wild bird or animal, provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to the duly authorized agents of the county in the necessary control of predatory birds or animals;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
030 governs conduct in county-owned parks and recreation areas, and subsection F specifically makes it unlawful for any person to "kill, wound, chase or capture any wild bird or animal" inside those areas. The prohibition carries a built-in exception: it "shall not apply to the duly authorized agents of the county in the necessary control of predatory birds or animals," so county wildlife-control staff can still act on nuisance predators without violating the ban that applies to the public. 20 rules for that specific downtown site.
030 groups the bird-and-animal ban alongside a dozen other park conduct rules in the same subsection list, including bans on lighting unauthorized fires, discharging firearms, gambling, and letting domestic animals run loose, all enforced under the same penalty framework. 010 penalty for ordinance violations: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. 050.
Violations & Fines
Killing, wounding, chasing or capturing a wild bird or animal in a Fresno County park is enforced as a misdemeanor under the county's general penalty section, Code Section 1.12.010: up to a $500 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. Each day the violation continues is treated as a separate offense, and the director of public works and planning or county law enforcement can enforce the ban within any county park or recreation area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno?
Can county workers ever kill or trap wildlife in a park?
What is the penalty for killing a bird in a Fresno County park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.