Coral Springs, FL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 4-20
- First-offense fine
- $50 minimum civil penalty
- Repeat fines
- Up to $500 by fourth violation
- Exception
- Wild bird feeders on private property allowed
- Covers
- Raccoons, foxes, opossums, ducks, feral/stray cats
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 98-130, November 17, 1998
Summary
Coral Springs bans feeding raccoons, foxes, opossums, ducks, and other wild animals under City Code § 4-20, and the ban extends to stray or feral cats. Leaving foodstuffs on the ground that draw two or more animals to congregate or develop a feeding routine is also prohibited. The one exception: wild bird feeders on private property stay legal.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or otherwise entice or encourage to feed any raccoon, fox, opossum, duck, or any other wild animal. Wild animals shall also be interpreted as stray/feral cats.(b)No foodstuffs may be deposited on the ground which may encourage two (2) or more animals to congregate, nest, or develop a feeding habit or routine. However, wild bird feeders displayed on private property are permitted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 1 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 76 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-20 of the Coral Springs Code, part of Chapter 4 on animals, makes it unlawful for anyone to feed, entice, or encourage feeding of raccoons, foxes, opossums, ducks, or any other wild animal within city limits. The ordinance folds stray and feral cats into the definition of wild animals, so colony feeding sites are covered by the same prohibition. Subsection (b) closes a workaround: even without directly hand-feeding an animal, it is unlawful to deposit foodstuffs on the ground where they might draw two or more animals to congregate, nest, or develop a routine feeding habit.
The single carve-out in the section preserves backyard birdwatching: wild bird feeders displayed on private property remain permitted. Section 4-20 was adopted by Ordinance No. 98-130 on November 17, 1998, and has not been amended since. 0 to include code inspectors, law enforcement officers, traffic accident investigators, and fire safety inspectors, any of whom may issue a citation for a violation of this Code. Cited violations are treated as civil infractions resolved before a special magistrate or the clerk of court. 1(b).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Section 4-20 carries a minimum civil penalty of $50 under Section 1-8.1(d)(23), payable without a court date if paid within 20 business days. Repeat offenses escalate under the Section 1-8.1(e) fine schedule to $100 for a second violation, $200 for a third, and $100 to $500 for a fourth or subsequent violation within the same period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed stray cats in Coral Springs?
Are bird feeders illegal in Coral Springs?
What happens if I get cited more than once for feeding wildlife?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coral Springs
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Coral Springs to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle wildlife feeding.