Oakland, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Wild bird protection
- OMC § 6.04.340: no trap/snare/capture/kill
- Lake Merritt waterfowl
- OMC § 6.04.330: no throwing/disturbing
- Feral pigeon feeding rule
- Repealed (former § 6.04.345, Ord. 13858, 2025)
- Squirrel sale/import
- Banned under § 6.04.350
- Enforcing agency
- Oakland Animal Services
Summary
Oakland bans trapping, snaring, capturing, or killing any wild bird within city limits, and separately bars anyone from throwing missiles at or disturbing waterfowl in or around Lake Merritt. Squirrels are protected from sale and import too.
6.04.340 - Wild birds. It is unlawful for any person to trap, snare or otherwise capture or kill any wild birds in the City. [Ord. No. 13858, § 2(Exh. A), 9-15-2025; Prior code § 3-9.30] ... 6.04.345 - Reserved. Editor's note— Ord. No. 13858, adopted Sept. 15, 2025, repealed § 6.04.345, which pertained to the feeding of feral pigeons, and derived from Ord. No. 12817 § 1 (part), adopted in 2007. ... 6.04.330 - Water fowl in Lake Merritt. It is unlawful for any person to throw missiles or projectiles of any kind at, or disturb in any way, water fowl in or around Lake Merritt.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Planning Code: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
340 flatly states it is unlawful for any person to trap, snare, or otherwise capture or kill any wild birds in the City: a citywide protection that covers wild bird species generally, not just a listed set. 330, which makes it unlawful to throw missiles or projectiles of any kind at, or otherwise disturb, waterfowl in or around Lake Merritt, Oakland's tidal lagoon and long-standing wildlife refuge. 345, but that provision was repealed by Ordinance No. 13858 (adopted September 15, 2025); the reserved section notes it derived from Ordinance No.
12817 (2007) but is no longer in force, so feeding feral pigeons is not currently restricted by this chapter. 350 extends similar protection to squirrels, making it unlawful to import into the City, or to sell, expose for sale, exchange, deliver, or distribute within the City any ground squirrel or other squirrel. 320, and are enforced by Oakland Animal Services under the same general Title 6 infraction scheme.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the wild bird protection in § 6.04.340, the Lake Merritt waterfowl protection in § 6.04.330, or the squirrel sale/import ban in § 6.04.350 is enforceable as an infraction under Title 6's general enforcement provisions, administered by Oakland Animal Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to trap or kill wild birds in Oakland?
Can I feed the ducks and geese at Lake Merritt?
Does Oakland still restrict feeding feral pigeons?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oakland
California rules heatmap·Compare Oakland to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle bird protection.