Hamilton County has no blanket ban on feeding wildlife, but a 2026 Tennessee law makes it a misdemeanor to feed black bears in posted no-feeding zones. Feeding that attracts nuisance animals or creates a health hazard can still be abated locally.
Tennessee does not broadly prohibit feeding most wildlife, and Hamilton County has no general ordinance against backyard bird feeding. Effective July 1, 2026, a state law makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly feed black bears in areas the state has posted as no-feeding zones, with fines of at least $250; leaving unsecured food or garbage that attracts bears brings a warning then fines. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages wildlife and nuisance-animal issues statewide. Locally, feeding that creates a documented health, sanitation, or nuisance problem, or that draws rodents, can be addressed under nuisance and property-maintenance provisions. Intentionally feeding feral or wild animals to a neighbor's detriment may also trigger local action.
Feeding black bears in a posted zone is a Class B misdemeanor with a $250-plus fine under the 2026 state law. Nuisance feeding that attracts pests may bring local abatement notices and penalties.
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See how Hamilton County's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
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