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Rockville, MD Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Scope
City-owned parks only
Protects
Birds, squirrels, wild animals, eggs
Exception
City-managed deer culling program
Penalty class
Municipal infraction

Summary

Rockville bans catching, injuring, killing, or otherwise interfering with birds in any city park, plus taking bird eggs or nestlings, under the park rules chapter.

A person may not catch, injure, destroy or interfere in any way with birds, squirrels, or any wild animals, unless as part of a City-managed deer culling program and in accordance with the terms of the program and all applicable laws and regulations. A person may not remove or have in possession the young of any wild animal, or the eggs or young of any reptile or bird; provided, however, that snakes known to be deadly poisonous, or other deadly reptiles, may be killed on sight.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Rockville City Code § 14-37 prohibits catching, injuring, destroying, or interfering in any way with birds (also squirrels and other wild animals) inside city parks, and separately bars removing or possessing bird eggs or the young of any bird. The only carve-out is participation in a City-managed deer culling program under its own terms. Poisonous snakes and other deadly reptiles may still be killed on sight. The rule is a park-use regulation: it applies only within publicly owned Rockville recreation areas, not city-wide, and enforcement runs through the park rules article's municipal-infraction provision.

Violations & Fines

Violating the park animal rule is a municipal infraction under § 1-9, enforceable by citation for anyone caught harming or capturing birds in a City park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rockville's bird protection rule apply outside city parks?
No, § 14-37 is part of the park rules article and applies only inside publicly owned City of Rockville recreation areas.
Can I collect a bird's nest or eggs I find in a Rockville park?
No, § 14-37(b) bars removing or possessing the eggs or young of any bird found in a City park.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rockville

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All Rockville rules

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