San Francisco, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Police Code § 485
- Prohibited acts
- Trap, capture, kill, destroy
- Exception
- Public Health Director, nuisance birds
- Companion rule
- § 485.1 bans sterilizing wild birds
Summary
San Francisco bans trapping, capturing, killing, or destroying any wild bird citywide under Police Code Section 485, with a narrow public-health exception for nuisance pigeons handled by the Health Director.
It shall be unlawful for any person to trap, capture, kill or otherwise destroy any wild bird within the City and County of San Francisco, except that pigeons and other wild birds which become a nuisance or a hazard to public health may be trapped or captured, in a humane manner, by, or with the permission of, the Director of Public Health. It shall be the duty of the person who traps or captures pigeons or birds pursuant to the foregoing exception, to transport them in a humane manner and release them in some remote area. (Amended by Ord. 235-72, App. 8/21/72) SEC. 485.1. STERILIZATION OF BIRDS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS. It shall be unlawful for any person to sterilize or cause the sterilization of any wild bird within the City and County of San Francisco; provided, however, that pigeons or other wild birds which become a nuisance or a potential hazard to public health may be sterilized by the use of nontoxic sterilizants by or under the supervision of the Director of Public Health. (Added by Ord. 235-72, App. 8/21/72)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Police Code Section 485 makes it unlawful for any person to trap, capture, kill, or otherwise destroy any wild bird within the City and County of San Francisco. The only exception lets pigeons and other wild birds that become a nuisance or public health hazard be trapped humanely by, or with permission of, the Director of Public Health, who must then transport and release them in a remote area. A companion section, 485.1, separately bans sterilizing wild birds absent the same public-health exception.
Violations & Fines
Trapping, capturing, killing, or destroying a wild bird without the Health Director's nuisance exception violates Police Code Section 485 and is enforceable as a Police Code offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to kill a wild bird in San Francisco?
Who can remove nuisance pigeons in San Francisco?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
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