Unincorporated San Mateo County prohibits intentional feeding of coyotes, deer, and other wildlife. CA Fish & Game Code §251.3 prohibits feeding big game mammals (deer, bear, mountain lion). Coastside areas have active coyote and mountain lion populations.
San Mateo County enforces California Fish and Game Code §251.3 which prohibits intentional feeding of big game mammals including deer, elk, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, bear, and wild pig statewide. The Peninsula's open space (Crystal Springs Watershed, Purisima Creek, Huddart Park) borders residential neighborhoods where feeding causes habituation. County Ordinance Code supplements state law by prohibiting feeding of coyotes, which have expanded on the Peninsula including urban areas. Unsecured trash, pet food left outside, and unharvested fruit trees constitute unintentional feeding. Bird feeders allowed but discouraged in areas with bear activity (rare on Peninsula proper, common in Skyline/La Honda). Feral cat colony management has separate rules requiring Peninsula Humane Society coordination. Residents should use wildlife-resistant trash containers and keep pet food indoors.
CA F&G §251.3 violation: misdemeanor, fines up to $1,000, up to 6 months jail. County coyote-feeding citations: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 subsequent. Unsecured trash leading to wildlife attraction: code enforcement notice, $100 fines.
San Mateo County, CA
Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88 Noise Control, which caps exterior noise at 55-75 dBA daytime and...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces CVC §22651(k) for vehicles on public streets (72 hours) and Ordinance Code Chapter 4.48 for inoperable vehicles on p...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no general overnight parking ban on most streets. Specific residential neighborhoods may have permit parking. California ...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-clo...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, per California Buil...
San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and designated Very High Fire Hazard Severit...
See how San Mateo County's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.