San Joaquin County, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

California Fish & Game Code §251.3 and California Code of Regulations Title 14 §251.3 prohibit intentionally feeding or harassing big game including deer, elk, antelope, and bear statewide — a misdemeanor under §12000. San Joaquin County does not have a stand-alone wildlife-feeding ordinance but enforces the general nuisance provisions of Development Title §9-1030 (attractive nuisance) and Environmental Health §7-6000 (vector control) against practices that attract coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and feral cats. Common violations: unsecured trash containers, pet food left outdoors overnight, intentional coyote/raccoon feeding, and abandoned bird-feeder spillage near residential property lines. Rural Delta and Lodi foothill properties experience turkey vulture roosts that the county and CDFW manage through harassment rather than feeding bans. The Mountain House and Tracy communities occasionally see urban coyote sightings that trigger CDFW public-safety protocols. Feral cat colony management is permitted through TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs run by Animal Protection League and SJ County Animal Services when done with a registered colony caretaker. Bird feeders are not banned but residents are encouraged to clean spillage and remove feeders during bear or rodent outbreaks.