Chino Hills, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Open space provision
- CHMC § 12.32.130
- Parks provision
- CHMC § 12.40.220
- Covers
- Feeding, hunting, harassing, eggs/nests
- Park violation class
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 mo.
- Exempt
- City/animal control personnel on duty
Summary
Chino Hills bars anyone from feeding, hunting, molesting, or harassing wild animals or birds in City-Owned Open Space, and from taking eggs, nests, or young, under Municipal Code § 12.32.130. The same prohibition, in nearly identical wording, applies separately to city parks under § 12.40.220.
In the City-Owned Open Space no person shall hunt, feed, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw devices at any animal or bird, nor shall any person remove or have in their possession any wild animals, or the eggs, or nest or young of any animal or bird. This section shall not apply to City or law enforcement, fire district or animal control personnel in performance of their official duties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
130, in the chapter governing City-Owned Open Space, states that no person shall hunt, feed, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw devices at any animal or bird, nor remove or possess any wild animal or the eggs, nest, or young of any animal or bird, with an exception for City, law enforcement, fire district, or animal control personnel acting in their official duties. 220, makes the same conduct unlawful and a misdemeanor when it occurs in any park. 40 (Park and Recreational Facilities), that separately restrict fires, unauthorized drones, off-leash pets, and camping on the same land, so a person feeding wildlife on a city trail can also be cited under those neighboring sections depending on the circumstances. 010.
Violations & Fines
Feeding or harassing wildlife in a Chino Hills park is expressly a misdemeanor under CHMC § 12.40.220, punishable under § 1.36.020(A) by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in county jail, or both. The parallel open-space violation under § 12.32.130 is enforced through the same general misdemeanor and nuisance-abatement provisions in Chapter 1.36, since that chapter does not set its own separate fine schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed the deer or geese on a Chino Hills trail?
Is feeding wildlife in a city park treated the same way?
Does the open space feeding ban carry its own fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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