Concord, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Wildlife management in Concord is primarily a state function under California Fish and Game Code and regulations administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Local enforcement is limited: Concord Police and Code Enforcement handle nuisance wildlife complaints, while CDFW handles species-specific regulations, hunting/trapping permits, and depredation permits. Feeding wildlife (deer, coyotes, raccoons, wild turkeys) is strongly discouraged and can constitute a public nuisance, particularly where feeding habituates animals to people and creates safety risks. California Fish & Game Code §2000 prohibits take of wildlife without a valid permit. Title 14 California Code of Regulations §671 lists restricted species (wild animals prohibited as pets without a CDFW permit). Coyote encounters are increasingly common in Concord's hillside neighborhoods; CDFW's Keep Me Wild program provides guidance. Injured wildlife should be directed to Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation hospital. Mountain lion and bear encounters should be reported to CDFW immediately.