Greeley, CO Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- City-wide status
- Declared a bird sanctuary
- Prohibited acts
- Shooting, trapping, poisoning, disturbing nests
- Hunting exception
- Revocable permit, Ch. 11 only
- Excluded species
- House sparrow, European starling
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor infraction
Summary
Greeley declares the whole city a bird sanctuary and bans frightening, shooting, trapping, poisoning or otherwise disturbing wild birds, their nests, eggs or young, absent a revocable hunting permit.
Except pursuant to a revocable hunting permit issued pursuant to chapter 11 of this title, frightening, shooting at, wounding, killing, capturing, ensnaring, trapping, netting, poisoning or otherwise disturbing a wild bird or its nest, eggs or young is prohibited. Any finding of violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor infraction.(b)The entire area within the corporate limits of the city is a bird sanctuary for the refuge of all wild birds, and all persons within the city are urged to protect wild birds and encourage their propagation and refuge within the sanctuary. (Code 1994, § 7.08.110; Ord. No. 33, 2019, exh. A, § 7.08.110, 8-6-2019)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Greeley Municipal Code § 10-62 makes it unlawful to frighten, shoot at, wound, kill, capture, ensnare, trap, net, poison or otherwise disturb a wild bird or its nest, eggs or young, except under a revocable hunting permit issued under Title 10, Chapter 11. The same section declares the entire area within the city's corporate limits a bird sanctuary for the refuge of all wild birds and urges residents to protect wild birds and encourage their propagation. 'Wild bird' is defined in § 10-1 as a bird of prey, game bird or other undomesticated bird not customarily kept as a pet: house sparrows and European starlings are expressly excluded from protection.
Violations & Fines
A finding of violation is a misdemeanor infraction under § 10-62(a), prosecuted under Title 1, Chapter 9 of the Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is all of Greeley a bird sanctuary?
Can I trap a nuisance bird myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greeley
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