Tinley Park, IL Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Fine range
- $100 to $750 per day
- Covered species
- cats, squirrels, rabbits, deer, ducks, geese, more
- Hanging feeders
- allowed if feed stays contained
- Adopted
- Ord. 2024-O-060, passed 11-19-24
- Enforced by
- Public Works Dept. / Animal Control Officer
Summary
Tinley Park's Village Code makes it a violation to ground feed animals or birds, covering everything from squirrels and rabbits to deer, ducks and geese, on any public or private property. Hanging bird feeders remain legal, but only if the feed stays inside a purpose-built feeder and the ground below is kept clear of spilled food.
Any person who performs or permits ground feeding of animals and/or birds, including but not limited to cats, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, rabbits, raccoon, opossum, skunk, deer, ducks, geese or any other wild animal on public or private property within the village shall be guilty of a violation of this section and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $750 per day for each day the offense continues. Above ground hanging of bird feeders is allowed as long as all feed is placed in a container or feeder designed for the specific purpose of feeding birds and the area around the feeder is kept free and clear of bird food.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-40: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2026-O-007, passed 2-17-2026, Resolution 2018-R-077, passed 10-2-18, and State legislation current through 2010 Pamphlet No. 7).
Full Breakdown
16 of the Tinley Park Village Code targets ground feeding, not birdwatching. Anyone who performs or permits ground feeding of animals or birds, a list that names cats, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, deer, ducks and geese, faces a violation for putting feed directly on the ground anywhere in the village, whether the property is public or private. The ordinance, added by Ord. 14). Residents who want to feed songbirds still can: the code carves out an exception for feeders that hang above ground, as long as the feed sits inside a container or feeder built for that purpose and the area underneath is kept free and clear of scattered bird food.
That distinction matters because loose feed on the ground is what draws rats, raccoons and deer into yards, the exact nuisance the section is written to stop. 65 to act as conservators of the peace for this chapter, can issue citations to anyone found scattering feed for wildlife on the ground. Because the violation is tied to each day the practice continues rather than a single incident, a homeowner who keeps refilling a ground feeding station after a warning accumulates a new fine every day it stays in place.
Violations & Fines
Ground feeding animals or birds carries a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $750 per day, with each day the feeding continues counted as a separate offense under § 91.16. The Public Works Department and Animal Control Officer enforce the section and can cite property owners on public or private land alike; there is no separate warning period built into the ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed birds in my Tinley Park yard?
What happens if I keep feeding deer or geese on the ground after a citation?
Does the ban apply to squirrels and chipmunks, or just larger animals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tinley Park
Compare Tinley Park to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle bird protection.