Murfreesboro, TN Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Sanctuary area
- entire City limits
- Prohibited acts
- trap, shoot, hunt, molest birds
- Nest robbing
- unlawful
- Nuisance exception
- Starlings, City-declared only
- Penalty
- City Code §§ 5-22, 1-8
Summary
Murfreesboro designates its entire corporate area a bird sanctuary: trapping, shooting, hunting, or molesting birds or robbing nests is unlawful everywhere in the City, except for Starlings the City formally declares a nuisance.
The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the City, as presently constituted or as may be charged in the future by annexation or otherwise, is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary.
It shall be unlawful to trap, shoot, hunt, or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any birds, or wild fowl or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests; provided, however, that the City may declare the congregation of Starlings or similar birds a nuisance and menace to the health and/or property of the City's citizens. In the event the City declares said birds to be a nuisance, then said birds may be destroyed in such manner and numbers as prescribed by the City.
(Ord. of 09-08-33 § 7; Ord. of 03-28-68 § 1; Ord. No. 78-15 §§ 1-2, 05-11-78)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 5-21 makes the whole City, current and future annexed area alike, a designated bird sanctuary. Inside that sanctuary it is unlawful for anyone to trap, shoot, hunt, or attempt to shoot or molest any bird or wild fowl, or to rob a bird's or wild fowl's nest. The only carve-out: the City may declare a congregation of Starlings or similar birds a nuisance and menace to health or property, and once it does, those specific birds may be destroyed in the manner and numbers the City prescribes. Violators face the standard penalty set in § 5-22, punishable under City Code § 1-8.
Violations & Fines
Trapping, shooting, hunting, or molesting any bird or wild fowl, or robbing a nest, anywhere in Murfreesboro is unlawful under § 5-21 and punishable per § 5-22 / City Code § 1-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is all of Murfreesboro a bird sanctuary?
Can nuisance birds like Starlings be removed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
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