Grand Forks, ND Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 11-0219 defines feeding broadly: leaving out one-half cubic foot or more of grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible material, whether placed on the ground or at a height of not less than five feet above it, counts as prohibited feeding if it attracts deer on a regular basis. The section draws a specific line around ordinary landscaping: leaving food sources such as fruit trees and other live vegetation in place is not considered deer feeding, so a resident's garden or fruit tree does not violate the ban even if deer happen to eat from it.

The prohibition does not apply to veterinarians, city animal control officers, park maintenance staff, or county, state or federal game officials who have deer in their custody or under their management in the course of their duties, which covers situations such as relocating an injured animal or managing a park herd. The rule sits in Chapter XI, Article 2, "Control and Protection of Animals," alongside the trapping restriction in Section 11-0218 and the beekeeping permit in Section 11-0220, and was added by Ordinance No. 4153 in 2006.

Unlike the fowl nuisance rule in Section 11-0217, Section 11-0219 does not build in its own fine amount or removal notice period; enforcement runs through a citation for violating the article, referred to municipal court like other Chapter XI offenses.