Costa Mesa prohibits or discourages feeding wildlife including coyotes, feral cats, and pigeons in public areas. Residents must secure trash to prevent wildlife encounters. The city works with OC Animal Care on coyote management programs.
CMMC provisions address wildlife management in the city. Deliberately feeding coyotes is prohibited and creates public safety hazards. Costa Mesa has an active coyote population, particularly near the Talbert Nature Preserve, Upper Newport Bay, and Fairview Park areas. The city participates in coyote management programs and educates residents on coexistence strategies. Feeding feral cats on public property may be restricted, though managed Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs may be permitted through coordination with OC Animal Care. Feeding pigeons and other pest birds in public areas and parks is discouraged and may violate park rules. Residents must secure trash containers to prevent attracting wildlife. Pet food should not be left outdoors. OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 handles wildlife complaints. Costa Mesa Animal Control responds to coyote sightings and aggressive wildlife encounters.
Deliberately feeding coyotes may result in code enforcement citations and fines. Failure to secure trash attracting wildlife may violate nuisance provisions. Repeat offenders face escalating fines.
Costa Mesa, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle wildlife feeding.
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