Arcadia, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 4137 of the Arcadia Municipal Code has two prongs. The first bars any person from feeding, or making any food or edible thing available to, any animal or fowl, either domestic or nondomestic, in, on or upon any public street, sidewalk or parkway. That prong reaches a stray cat, a pigeon, a duck and a pet dog alike, because the text names domestic and nondomestic animals without limit. The second prong bars feeding any wild animal, such as peafowl, on private property, which puts a backyard feeder in the same position as a sidewalk feeder when the animal is wild.

The section then adds a nuisance declaration: it is declared a nuisance to feed peafowl on public or private property. The code prints the history note Ord. No. 2389, Section 2, dated 8-16-22, so the current wording dates from August 16, 2022. Section 4131.4 supplies the definition of a wild animal for this Part: any mammal, fowl, fish or reptile which is wild, exotic, dangerous, nondomestic, vicious or known to be dangerous or vicious, or belonging to a predatory species. Peafowl are named in Section 4137 as an example of a wild animal.

The feeding ban sits with related keeping rules in Division 7 of Part 3. Section 4137.7.1(d) bars anyone who owns or possesses an animal from allowing it to constitute or cause a hazard or be a menace to the health, peace or safety of the community. Section 4137.1 bars letting stock run at large on public streets and other public places, and Section 4137.3 bars letting rabbits, poultry or domestic fowl other than household pets go at large on any street or public place.

Section 4137 lists no separate penalty and no exception for a feeder who owns the animal or for feeding on the feeder's own private property when the animal is domestic. The private property prong is confined to wild animals. Enforcement follows the code-wide penalty in Section 1200, and Section 1200(d) declares any violation of the Code a public nuisance for which the City can recover attorney's fees as the prevailing party.