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Fairfield, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

Local wildlife-feeding ban
None city-specific
State prohibition
14 CCR Section 251.1 (harassment of wildlife)
Big-game feeding
Discouraged and may trigger CDFW action
Nuisance overlay
FMC Chapter 27
Enforcement
CDFW and Fairfield Code Compliance

Summary

Fairfield does not have a city-specific wildlife-feeding ban, but California Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations make it illegal to feed big game mammals (deer, bears) and harassment of wildlife. Feeding that creates a nuisance may also be cited under Fairfield's Community Preservation chapter.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources such as food, water, and habitat. As the State's trustee agency for fish and wildlife, CDFW has developed a robust HWC Toolkit to help reduce or prevent wildlife damage and conflict with wildlife.

Full Breakdown

Fairfield Municipal Code does not include a stand-alone wildlife-feeding ordinance. The primary restrictions on feeding wild animals come from state law. 1 and related Title 14 regulations prohibit harassing wildlife, which the California Department of Fish and Wildlife interprets to include actions that habituate wildlife to humans through feeding. Intentional feeding of big game mammals such as deer is specifically discouraged and may trigger CDFW enforcement when it leads to property damage or public safety problems. Locally, feeding that attracts rodents, raccoons, skunks, or other vector animals onto adjacent properties can be abated as a public nuisance under Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 27 (Community Preservation), and accumulation of pet food or birdseed on the ground may also be cited as an unsanitary condition.

Suisun Marsh and the open-space areas along Green Valley, Suisun, Ledgewood, and Union Creeks bring deer, turkeys, and waterfowl close to Fairfield neighborhoods, so residents are encouraged to remove fallen fruit, secure pet food, and use bear-resistant trash containers in the hillside areas.

Violations & Fines

State Fish and Game violations are infractions or misdemeanors handled by CDFW wardens. Local nuisance citations are issued by Fairfield Code Compliance under Chapter 27 and follow the standard administrative-citation escalation: warning, then escalating fines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put out a bird feeder?
Yes. Bird feeders for songbirds are not prohibited. Keep the area below the feeder clean to avoid attracting rodents, which can lead to a nuisance citation.
Is feeding deer illegal in Fairfield?
There is no specific city ban, but feeding deer is strongly discouraged and CDFW may treat habitual feeding that creates damage or safety problems as unlawful harassment of wildlife under state regulations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fairfield

All Fairfield rules

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