Lakewood, CO Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Located within Chapter 6.05, "Exotic, Dangerous, Vicious and Wild Animals," Section 6.05.050 draws a hard line between casual backyard feeding and the species that create real safety problems for a Front Range city bordering open space: "It shall be unlawful to knowingly place or provide food for any wildlife. As used herein, wildlife includes but is not limited to skunks, raccoons, deer, coyotes, mountain lions, fox, elk, and non-domesticated waterfowl. This prohibition shall not apply to squirrels or birds." The word "knowingly" matters: the city has to show a resident intentionally set out food, not that wildlife happened onto the property. The list is illustrative, not exhaustive, so an animal control officer can treat a comparable large or predatory wild species the same way even if it isn't named by name.

Enforcement runs through the Animal Control Section of the Police Department, the same unit that handles impoundment under Chapter 6.03 and that is authorized under Section 6.05.040 to apprehend, relocate outside city limits, or destroy a wild animal found at large. A conviction for feeding wildlife is punished under the Title 6 fine schedule in Section 6.08.020(A), which applies the citywide general penalty of Section 1.16.020: a fine of up to $2,650.00, imprisonment for up to 365 days, or both, with the Municipal Court able to order restitution and suspend all or part of a sentence. Because Section 6.08.020(A) reaches "any section of this title," the same fine range applies whether the citation is for feeding wildlife, an unlicensed dog, or a rabies violation.

Repeat offenders face an added consequence: Section 6.08.025 makes it a separate offense to be a "habitual animal offender," defined as an owner charged with three violations of Title 6, the animal provisions of Title 9, or the household-pet provisions of Title 17, arising from separate incidents within any 12-month period.