West Sacramento, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- City parks only
- Protected
- Wild and domestic birds, animals
- Also covers
- Eggs and nests
- Permit exception
- None listed
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor
Summary
West Sacramento bans hunting, harming or capturing any wild or domestic bird, or taking its eggs or nest, in a city park, per Municipal Code § 12.12.030(M), with no permit exception listed for this rule.
Hunt, kill, chase, wound, tease, molest or capture any wild or domestic bird or animal in a park, except chasing or capturing of one's own animal, nor remove or have in his or her possession the young, eggs or nest of any such creature;
N. Intentionally remove, break, injure, deface or disturb any material, equipment, structure, building or improvement, nor cut, dig up, pick, remove or destroy any turf, tree, plant, shrub, bloom or flower in a park;
O. Contaminate in any way any water, fountain, pools, lakes, rivers, other water supply or wash any clothing or cooking utensils in any such waters in a park;
P. Dispose of trash or garbage not accumulated within park areas, nor dispose of trash or garbage accumulated within park areas other than in receptacles provided for this purpose;
Q. Start or maintain fires in parks other than in "on-site" barbecue pits or personal portable barbecues within designated picnic areas, nor fail to extinguish live coals or fires before leaving the picnic area;
R. Open, expose or interfere with any water system or utility, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to the use of any drinking fountain for its intended purpose;
S. Use, operate or leave standing, whether attended or unattended, any vehicle or motorized objects in a park, except as provided in this chapter;
T. Camp in any city park, parking area, or building without a use permit therefor as provided in this chapter;
U.
Full Breakdown
West Sacramento Municipal Code § 12.12.030(M) makes it unlawful for any person in a city park to hunt, kill, chase, wound, tease, molest or capture any wild or domestic bird or animal, except chasing or capturing one's own pet, or to remove or possess the young, eggs or nest of any such creature. Unlike several neighboring subsections of § 12.12.030 that allow city-permitted exceptions (for example, firearms or livestock 'expressly conditioned by permit'), subsection (M) carries no such permit carve-out, making it an unqualified prohibition inside park boundaries in the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 12.12.030(M) is a misdemeanor under § 12.12.240(A), punishable as set forth in the city's general penalty law; it is not among the subsections reduced to an infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to harm birds in a West Sacramento park?
Does this rule cover bird nests and eggs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare West Sacramento to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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