Somerville, MA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 3-3 of Chapter 3 (Animals) covers feeding or baiting animals generally, and its second clause singles out birds: the feeding of birds is prohibited in or on all sidewalks, streets, parks, or other public property in the city, full stop, with no permit path carved out for birds the way subsection (a) allows for other animals through a superintendent of highways permit. The provision traces to the 1963 Code (§ 12-20) and was amended twice, by Ordinance No. 2002-02 on April 25, 2002, and by Ordinance No.

2007-14 on November 20, 2007, which is the version now in force. The ban sits in Chapter 3's Article I general provisions alongside neighboring rules against frightening horses in the street (Sec. 3-2) and allowing grazing animals to run at large in city parks and streets (Sec. 3-4), showing the chapter's throughline: keeping animal-related nuisances off public rights-of-way and park land. Because the section reaches 'all sidewalks, streets, parks, or other public property,' it covers Somerville-owned open space citywide, not just a named park or plaza, and applies regardless of whether the feeding is incidental (tossing bread to pigeons) or a set feeding station. Unlike the animal-baiting clause in subsection (a), there is no city permit that legalizes bird feeding on public property; the prohibition is unconditional.