Garden Grove, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Coyote Feeding
- Prohibited
- Trash Security
- Tight-fitting lids required
- Pet Food Outdoors
- Should not be left overnight
- Bird Feeding
- Allowed if no rodent attraction
- OC Animal Care
- (714) 935-6848
Summary
Garden Grove restricts feeding of wildlife to prevent nuisance conditions under the Municipal Code and general nuisance provisions. Feeding coyotes and other predatory wildlife is prohibited. Residents must secure trash and pet food to avoid attracting wildlife. Orange County Animal Care provides wildlife assistance for Garden Grove residents.
Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit Vision: To proactively address human-wildlife conflicts and improve wildlife incident responses; to support safe human-wildlife interactions; and to increase understanding, awareness and appreciation of wildlife in California. 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.
Full Breakdown
Garden Grove addresses wildlife feeding through its nuisance abatement provisions and in coordination with Orange County Animal Care. Deliberately feeding coyotes, raccoons, and other predatory wildlife is prohibited as it creates public safety hazards and encourages wildlife to frequent residential neighborhoods. The city has experienced coyote sighting increases in residential areas, and the GGPD and OC Animal Care advise residents to never feed wildlife. Residents must secure outdoor trash in containers with tight-fitting lids, avoid leaving pet food outdoors overnight, and clean up fallen fruit from trees. Feral cat colony feeding, while not outright banned, must be managed through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs coordinated with OC Animal Care. Bird feeding is generally permitted but must not create excessive accumulation that attracts rodents. Contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 for wildlife concerns.
Violations & Fines
Feeding wildlife that creates a nuisance may result in code enforcement citations. Failure to secure trash attracting wildlife is also enforceable. Contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 or Code Enforcement at (714) 741-5792.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed coyotes in Garden Grove?
Can I feed birds in my Garden Grove yard?
What should I do about coyotes in my Garden Grove neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garden Grove
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle wildlife feeding.