Pacifica, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered areas
- Parks, beaches, mini-parks, recreation facilities
- Offense class
- Misdemeanor unless charged as infraction
- Government exemption
- Agencies acting in official duty
- Companion pier rule
- § 4-9.02(x)-(y) on City piers
- Governing section
- Pacifica Municipal Code § 4-10.118(a)(19)-(20)
Summary
In the City of Pacifica's parks, beaches, mini-parks, adjacent parking areas and recreation facilities, Municipal Code § 4-10.118(a)(19) bars hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing, or throwing objects at any animal, reptile, or bird, and bars removing wildlife young, eggs, or nests. Subsection (20) separately bars giving an animal or bird any noxious substance. Government agencies acting officially are exempt.
(19)Hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing or throwing missiles, items or devices at any animal, reptile or bird, or removing or having in one's possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any reptile or bird. This prohibition shall not apply to governmental agencies acting in the course and scope of their official duties;(20)Giving or offering, or attempting to give, to any animal or bird any noxious substance. This prohibition shall not apply to governmental agencies acting in the course and scope of their official duties; ... (3)Section 4-10.118(a)(19), concerning the harming or any animal, reptile, or bird;(4)Section 4-10.118(a)(20), concerning the offering or attempting to offer any animal or bird a noxious substance.
Full Breakdown
118 of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Facilities chapter lists prohibited acts across every regulated area in the City: parks, mini-parks, adjacent parking areas, beaches, beach parking areas, and recreation facilities. Subsection (19) makes it unlawful to engage in hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing or throwing missiles, items or devices at any animal, reptile or bird, or removing or having in one's possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any reptile or bird, with an express carve-out for governmental agencies acting in the course of official duties, such as wildlife or vector control.
Subsection (20) separately prohibits giving or offering, or attempting to give, to any animal or bird any noxious substance, with the same government-agency exemption. 02(x) and (y). 01. Given Pacifica's coastal wildlife, including shorebirds at Rockaway Beach and Pacifica State Beach and the protected habitat around Mori Point, these subsections are the City's operative local wildlife-harassment rule inside its own park and beach system.
Violations & Fines
Hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, or chasing an animal, reptile, or bird, or taking wildlife young, eggs, or nests, in any Pacifica park, mini-park, beach, or recreation facility violates Section 4-10.118(a)(19). Offering an animal or bird a noxious substance violates subsection (20). Section 4-10.123(b) makes either a misdemeanor unless the City Attorney charges it as an infraction; government agencies performing official duties are exempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed wildlife at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica?
What is the penalty for harming a bird in a Pacifica park?
Does this wildlife rule apply outside city parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pacifica
California rules heatmap·Compare Pacifica to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle bird protection.