Longmont, CO Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- City-wide status
- Entire city is a bird sanctuary
- Prohibited
- Trap, hunt, shoot, or molest birds
- Also prohibited
- Robbing bird/wild fowl nests
- Narrow exception
- Nuisance starlings, police-supervised
Summary
Longmont designates its entire city limits a bird sanctuary and makes it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest any bird or wild fowl, or to rob nests, with a narrow police-supervised exception for nuisance starling flocks.
The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the city is designated as a bird sanctuary.
(Code 1993, § 7.04.220; Code 2009, § 7.04.220; Ord. No. O-88-65, § 1; Ord. No. O-2024-35, § 1, 5-28-2024)
Sec. 7.04.230. - Interference with birds or fowl unlawful; destruction of nuisance or menace birds. A.It is unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest, in any manner, any bird or wild fowl, or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests; provided, however, that if starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers as to constitute a nuisance or menace to health or property, then such birds may be removed or destroyed in such numbers as is deemed advisable, under the supervision of the police chief.
Full Breakdown
LMC § 7.04.220 designates the entire area within the city's corporate limits a bird sanctuary. Under § 7.04.230, it is unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest any bird or wild fowl, or to rob bird or wild fowl nests, anywhere in the city. The only exception lets the police chief authorize removal or destruction of starlings or similar birds if they congregate in numbers constituting a nuisance or menace to health or property; a separate defense covers licensed dogs used to haze geese off golf courses or designated parks.
Violations & Fines
Violating §§ 7.04.220/.230 falls under chapter 7.04's general penalty at § 7.04.240: a strict-liability offense punishable by up to a $500 fine, 90 days imprisonment, or both under the Chapter 1.12 general penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is all of Longmont a bird sanctuary?
Can I ever legally remove nuisance birds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Longmont
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Boulder County handle bird protection.