La Mesa, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered species
- Opossums, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes
- Bird exception
- Wild birds ok if pigeons aren't fed
- Enforcing agency
- Police Dept. animal control officer
- Penalty
- Infraction, fine up to $250
Summary
Section 8.04.290 makes it unlawful to intentionally feed or place feed out for any wild animal in La Mesa, naming opossums, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes as covered species. The ban does not reach feeding wild birds generally, but that carve-out itself stops at wild pigeons, which stay banned outright under the neighboring Section 8.04.280.
(1)General penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this code. A violation of any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this code shall constitute an infraction; except for any violation of the zoning, building, mechanical, housing, plumbing, fire, or emergency code (including but not limited to Title 24) which shall be misdemeanors, or in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by any ordinance of the city of La Mesa. ... Any person convicted of an infraction under the ordinances of this city shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars. ... 8.04.290 - Feeding of wild animals. No person shall intentionally feed or place feed out for any wild animal including but not limited to opossums, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes. This section does not apply to the feeding of wild birds which is permissible as long as wild pigeons are not also fed.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.04.290 prohibits intentionally feeding or placing feed out for any wild animal within the City of La Mesa, listing opossums, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes as examples of the wild animals covered, though the list is illustrative rather than exhaustive. The section carves out one exception: feeding wild birds is permissible, but only as long as wild pigeons are not also being fed in the process, since Section 8.04.280 separately bans pigeon feeding outright with no exceptions. Read together with the Chapter 8.04 definitions, this section targets the same wild/exotic species that Section 8.04.020 already bars residents from owning or keeping as pets, extending the prohibition to feeding them even when a resident has no intention of keeping the animal.
Because Chapter 8.04 does not prescribe its own punishment for this section, a violation falls under the citywide general penalty in Section 1.01.080: an infraction, since Title 8 is not among the chapters elevated to misdemeanor status, punishable by a fine of up to two hundred fifty dollars, with continuing violations chargeable separately for each day they persist. The La Mesa Police Department's animal control officer enforces this section under the authority granted by Section 8.04.070 and Penal Code Section 836.5.
Violations & Fines
Intentionally feeding or setting out feed for opossums, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes or other wild animals anywhere in La Mesa violates Section 8.04.290, and the police department's animal control officer may cite the responsible resident under the enforcement authority in Section 8.04.070. Because the section carries no stated penalty of its own, it defaults to an infraction under the general penalty clause in Section 1.01.080, fined up to two hundred fifty dollars, with each day of continued feeding counted as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed raccoons or coyotes in La Mesa?
Can I still put out a bird feeder?
What's the penalty for feeding coyotes in La Mesa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in La Mesa
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How other cities in San Diego County handle wildlife feeding.