Huntington Beach, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- Intentionally killing or maiming any bird is unlawful
- Citation
- HBMC § 7.12.035, adopted by Ord. 3696 (2005)
- Penalty
- Infraction, up to $100 fine (§ 7.12.300)
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Planning and Building (§ 7.12.290)
- Key exception
- Licensed takes under the state Fish and Game Code
- Weapons caveat
- Exception never authorizes illegal weapon discharge
Summary
Huntington Beach makes it unlawful to intentionally kill or maim any bird within city limits under Municipal Code Section 7.12.035, a flat ban covering wild and domestic birds alike. The prohibition excludes veterinarians, actions to prevent immediate injury to a person or pet, government wildlife officials, and takes licensed under the state Fish and Game Code.
No person shall intentionally kill or maim a bird within the City of Huntington Beach. This section shall not apply to the following: A. A veterinarian while engaged in practicing veterinary medicine. B. Any person acting to prevent immediate death or injury to a person or domestic animal. C. An official of a state, federal or local agency who, by virtue of this office, has authority to destroy birds. D. Any person acting pursuant to the California Fish and Game Code or regulations adopted by the Fish and Game Commission, and persons issued licenses or permits authorizing the taking of birds by the state or federal government. This section shall not be construed to allow the discharge of weapons in areas where their use is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954605; v17 updated 2026-06-16).
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ordinance No. 035 applies citywide whether the bird is a backyard hen, a wild gull on the beach, or a shorebird in the wetlands, and it reaches any intentional killing or maiming, not just repeated or commercial takes. Four exceptions apply: a veterinarian engaged in practicing veterinary medicine; a person acting to prevent immediate death or injury to a person or a domestic animal; a state, federal or local official who by virtue of office has authority to destroy birds; and anyone acting under the California Fish and Game Code or a state or federal license or permit to take birds.
The section is explicit that none of these exceptions authorizes discharging a weapon in an area where weapons are otherwise prohibited, so a hunting or pest-control exemption never overrides the City's separate firearm-discharge rules. 300 makes any violation of the chapter, including this one, an infraction.
Violations & Fines
A violation is an infraction under Section 7.12.300, capped at a $100.00 fine per offense, with no jail exposure on a first citation. The Director of Planning and Building, per Section 7.12.290, enforces the chapter, and Orange County's contracted animal-control field response can investigate a reported bird injury or death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to kill a wild bird in Huntington Beach?
What is the penalty for violating Huntington Beach's bird-protection ordinance?
Does the bird protection law let me shoot pest birds on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle bird protection.