Feeding wildlife in Middlesex County is restricted by local bylaws and MassWildlife rules. Intentionally feeding deer, bears, turkeys, and coyotes is prohibited statewide; bird feeding is generally allowed.
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) under 321 CMR 2.13 prohibits intentional feeding of bears, and most Middlesex County communities extend this to deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and foxes through local bylaws. Cambridge, Newton, Lexington, and Concord all have wildlife feeding prohibitions that apply to ground feeding of mammals. Bird feeding is generally permitted but must be managed to prevent attracting bears or rodents; Concord and Carlisle require bird feeders to be taken down April 1 to November 1 to reduce bear conflicts (black bears are expanding eastward into western Middlesex). Feeding feral cat colonies is regulated by some towns and may require registration with the animal control officer. Waterfowl feeding (ducks, geese at ponds) is banned in many Middlesex parks including Fresh Pond (Cambridge) and Spy Pond (Arlington) due to water quality impacts. Fines range 50 to 500 dollars per offense.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle wildlife feeding.
See how Arlington's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.