Ann Arbor, MI Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Feeding height limit
- Under 5 feet, exposed material
- Maximum fine
- $500 civil infraction
- Exceptions
- Bird/pet feeders, DNR permits
- Governing section
- City Code § 9:54(2)
Summary
Ann Arbor bans placing grain, fruit, salt licks or other edible material where it's likely to attract deer, with exceptions for bird/pet feeders, gardening and DNR-permitted trapping.
No person may place or permit to be placed on the ground, or less than 5 feet above the ground surface any grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible materials which may reasonably be expected to result in deer feeding, unless such items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents deer from feeding on them. Living fruit trees and other live vegetation shall not be considered as deer feeding.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 9:54(2) prohibits placing or permitting grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible material on the ground, or under 5 feet up, where it may reasonably be expected to result in deer feeding, unless the material is screened or protected. Council adopted the ban to curb deer concentrations, crop and landscape depredation, and deer-vehicle crashes. Exceptions cover wildlife officials on duty, the city's approved Deer Management Program, DNR-permitted trapping, feeding domestic animals or wild birds with feeders, and mulching or erosion-control materials. A violation is declared a public nuisance the City Attorney can enjoin.
Violations & Fines
Civil infraction, fine up to $500 under § 9:54(4)(b); a violation is also a declared public nuisance the City Attorney may seek to enjoin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put out corn or salt licks for deer in Ann Arbor?
Can I still feed birds or my pets outside in Ann Arbor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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