Everett, MA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 3-30 of the Everett Revised Ordinances reaches every place within the city. No person except the Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or his agent or designee as authorized under chapter 131 of the General Laws, can feed or bait any waterfowl of the family Anatidae, which the ordinance says includes ducks, geese and swans. Feeding and baiting cover placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering, directly or indirectly, shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain, bread, salt, or any other feed or nutritive substances, in any manner or form, so as to constitute a lure, attraction, or enticement for the birds.

Three carve-outs are printed. Subsection (b) protects feeding of domesticated waterfowl by a farmer as defined in MGL c.128, §1A on property he owns or leases; feeding by propagators licensed under MGL c.131, §23 when the birds are confined as that section requires; and feeding by a person, his agents, invitees or licensees, of waterfowl lawfully kept as a pet. Subsection (c) lets the Director or his agent or designee authorize emergency feeding when, in his opinion, it is necessary to alleviate undue losses and suffering of such birds due to unusual weather conditions and other circumstances, and it requires immediate notification of the City Council by first class mail.

Section 3-31 assigns enforcement to the police chief and his designee, including the animal control officer, and to any city police officer. A violation is fined in accordance with Section 1-8, and the enforcing agent can use noncriminal disposition proceedings in accordance with MGL c.40, §21D.

Bird feed is also regulated from the rodent side. Section 10-35(d)(4) of the Health and Sanitation chapter says that when feeding birds, the feed should be kept at all times on raised platforms made inaccessible to rats, and that bird food shall not be placed on the ground when there is evidence of rats on the premises or on nearby premises.