Santa Cruz County, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

14 targets waterfowl and pigeon overpopulation along creeks, sloughs, and public gathering spots in unincorporated communities like Aptos, Soquel, and Live Oak. 010 defines "waterfowl" as ducks, geese, or other birds found in the county that use, or are reasonably capable of using, county waterways as habitat. 020(A) prohibits intentionally feeding waterfowl or pigeons, or placing or releasing food that waterfowl or pigeons may consume, anywhere in the unincorporated area, and separately prohibits an adult from allowing a minor in their care to do the feeding.

Subsection (B) bans selling or offering to sell, or running a business that sells, live waterfowl or pigeons as pets or for release. Subsection (C) bans abandoning or releasing waterfowl or pigeons outright, closing off the practice of dumping unwanted pet ducks at a pond. 030 gives the Director of Animal Services discretion to permit feeding or release when there is a health, wildlife-management, or stream-management reason that justifies it, but that permission must be granted by the Director, not assumed by the resident. 060.