Waterbury, CT Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected
- Birds, nests, eggs, squirrels, other animals
- Location
- Any city park
- Companion rule
- Plant/structure damage, § 98.16
- Enforcing body
- Board of Park Commissioners
- Penalty
- Fine per § 41.11 or community court
Summary
Waterbury protects wildlife inside its parks by ordinance. City Code § 98.17 makes it unlawful to disturb or injure any bird, bird's nest, eggs, squirrel or other animal within any city park, enforced by the Board of Park Commissioners' fine schedule.
DISTURBING ANIMALS IN PARK. No person shall disturb or injure any bird, bird's nest or eggs or any squirrel or other animal within any of the parks.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through September 8, 2025).
Full Breakdown
17 provides that no person shall disturb or injure any bird, bird's nest or eggs or any squirrel or other animal within any of the parks. 02 as any park, playground, recreation center or other city-owned area devoted to active or passive recreation. 16 barring anyone from picking flowers or foliage, or cutting, breaking, digging up, mutilating or injuring any tree, shrub, plant, grass, turf, railing, seat, fence or structure in a park, and a statutory cross-reference to Connecticut's criminal mischief statutes, Conn. Gen. §§ 53a-115 through 53a-117a, which can apply to damage of municipal property including park habitat.
Together these two sections cover both the living animals in a park, birds, nests, eggs, squirrels, and other wildlife, and the plants and structures that shelter them, giving Park Commissioners enforcement over disturbances ranging from nest destruction to vandalism of park landscaping.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 98.17 is punished under the general Chapter 98 penalty in § 98.99(A): a fine set by the schedule of fees, charges, penalties and rewards attached to the city's annual budget per § 41.11, and/or a summons to community court under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-181c(d), where a judge may order community service or another lawful penalty; each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to disturb a bird's nest in a Waterbury park?
Does the bird protection rule cover all Waterbury parks?
What other park protections exist alongside the wildlife rule?
What is the fine for violating the park wildlife protection rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waterbury
Compare Waterbury to another location·View the Connecticut animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle bird protection.