Fountain Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited acts
- Feed, disturb, or physically contact wildlife
- Where
- On city property in the City of Fountain Valley
- Exception
- Written authorization from the director of community services
- Adopted
- Ordinance 1590, 2022
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor: fine up to $500, jail up to 6 months, or both
Summary
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, no person can feed, disturb or have physical contact with wildlife on city property unless the director of community services authorizes it in writing. The City Council added the rule in 2022, and violations of Chapter 12.08 are misdemeanors.
Unless specifically authorized by the director of community services in writing, no person shall feed, disturb, or have physical contact with wildlife on city property.
Full Breakdown
Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 12.08.105 is short and has three prohibited acts: feeding wildlife, disturbing wildlife, and having physical contact with wildlife. Each one applies on city property. The only exception is a written authorization from the director of community services. A verbal okay does not meet the text, which says "in writing."
The phrase "city property" is broader than the chapter's park definition. Section 12.08.030 defines "park" as all recreational and other public land owned, operated, managed or controlled by the City of Fountain Valley, with its buildings, parking lots and improvements. Because § 12.08.105 says city property rather than park, it follows the wording of the section and is not limited to a single park.
The rule goes beyond feeding. A person who chases, corners or handles an animal on city property is "disturbing" or making "physical contact," and both are prohibited even without food. That wording covers ducks, squirrels, birds and any other wildlife on city land, since the section names no species and sets no size threshold.
Related Chapter 12.08 rules reinforce it. Section 12.08.040 bars depositing paper, trash, litter, animal carcass, rubbish or debris on park grounds except in proper receptacles, and § 12.08.050 bars bringing material into a park to dump it. Scattering bread or seed is therefore also a littering question where it is left on the ground.
The City Council adopted § 12.08.105 as Ordinance 1590 in 2022. It is the only wildlife rule in Chapter 12.08. The chapter sets no culling, hazing or trapping program, so wildlife management beyond feeding and contact is not addressed in these sections.
Violations & Fines
Section 12.08.105 sits in Chapter 12.08, so the penalty clause in § 12.08.180 governs. Any person, firm, partnership or corporation violating the chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, imprisonment in the County Jail for up to six months, or both. Discarding food or trash in a park adds exposure under § 12.08.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed ducks or birds at Fountain Valley parks?
Does the rule only ban feeding?
Who can give permission to feed or handle wildlife?
What is the penalty under Chapter 12.08?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fountain Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Fountain Valley to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle wildlife feeding.