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

We could not locate any County Code provision in the unincorporated area that specifically bans feeding wildlife such as coyotes, deer, or raccoons, unlike some other jurisdictions (for example, Los Angeles County and City have a dedicated no-feeding ordinance). To avoid overstating the law, the honest answer is that San Diego County's regulatory ordinances do not contain a stand-alone unincorporated wildlife-feeding prohibition. Several other rules indirectly discourage or address wildlife feeding. The County Code requires owners to keep premises sanitary and prohibits conditions that create a breeding or harborage ground for rodents or other pests, or that become a public nuisance (sections 62.668 and related public-health provisions); food left out for wildlife that attracts rats or creates odors can be abated as a public nuisance. California law governs wildlife directly: under the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, it is generally unlawful to harass, take, or feed certain game animals such as big-game deer, and depredation and wildlife-conflict situations are handled by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Residents in coyote-prone areas are encouraged by County Animal Services and Fish and Wildlife not to feed wild animals because it habituates them and increases conflict, but that guidance is advisory unless a specific State rule or a nuisance condition applies. Anyone with a wildlife conflict should contact County Animal Services or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.