Hanford, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Protects
- Wild and domestic birds
- Where
- City parks and facilities only
- Also bans
- Taking eggs or nests
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, 1 year jail
Summary
Hanford bans molesting, trapping, poisoning, or killing any wild or domestic bird, or taking eggs or nests, within the city's parks and recreational facilities.
No member of the public, shall or attempt to molest, hunt, disturb, injure, trap, take, net, poison, harm, tease or kill any kind of wild or domestic animal, bird, or reptile, or their eggs or nests, or fish.
2. No member of the public shall release or abandon any animal, amphibian, bird, or reptile, dead or alive, within a city park.
G. Climbing. It is unlawful for the public to climb any trees or structures at any park/recreation area, which were not designed for climbing. (Ord. 24-08, 10/1/2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873707; v4 updated 2026-03-17).
Full Breakdown
Hanford Municipal Code § 12.24.110, the resource-protection section of the city's public-property chapter, bars anyone from molesting, hunting, disturbing, injuring, trapping, netting, poisoning, or killing any wild or domestic bird, or taking their eggs or nests, within a Hanford city park or recreational facility. The same subsection extends the ban to any other animal, reptile, or fish found in the park, and a companion clause separately bans releasing or abandoning any bird, animal, amphibian, or reptile, dead or alive, on park grounds. The protection is scoped to the city of Hanford's own parks, not Kings County land generally.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a public nuisance under Chapter 12.24 and can be charged as a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and up to one year in Kings County Jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trap or kill birds in a Hanford, California park?
Does this bird-protection rule apply outside city parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hanford
California rules heatmap·Compare Hanford to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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