Medina, OH Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- Ordinance 99-23, passed 6-12-2023
- Covered animals
- Deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, wildlife, strays
- Exempt
- Owned pets, hanging songbird feeders
- First offense
- Minor misdemeanor
- Repeat offense
- 4th-degree misdemeanor, daily count
- Extra remedy
- City may seek Common Pleas injunction
Summary
Medina prohibits purposely feeding deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, fowl, other wildlife, or stray animals when the feeding damages another's property or creates a nuisance, except in designated public feeding areas or for a person's own pets and stationary songbird feeders.
(a) No person shall purposely or knowingly provide food for deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, fowl or other wild animals, wildlife or stray animals, except as otherwise specifically authorized in designated and marked public areas, where such feeding: (1) Causes or contributes to damage to the property of another; or (2) Creates a public or private nuisance. ... (e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day on or during which a violation of this section occurs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025-01: Local legislation current through June 24, 2025 | State legislation current through December 31, 2024).
Full Breakdown
082 of the Medina Codified Ordinances bars any person from purposely or knowingly providing food for deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, fowl, other wild animals, wildlife, or stray animals unless the feeding happens in a designated and marked public area, and only then if it does not cause or contribute to property damage or create a public or private nuisance. The ordinance, adopted by Ordinance 99-23 on June 12, 2023, carves out specific exceptions: it does not reach fishing, feeding an animal a person actually owns, or feeding songbirds from a stationary, off-ground or hanging bird feeder, so backyard bird feeders remain legal while ground-level or bulk feeding of deer or geese is not.
Law enforcement officers, state game or conservation officers enforcing Ohio or local law, and anyone the City has authorized to run an animal control program, including a feral cat Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program, are also exempt so that sanctioned wildlife and colony-cat management is not blocked by the same rule that targets nuisance feeding. Beyond a criminal citation, the City can go to the Medina County Court of Common Pleas for an injunction and other civil relief against a repeat feeder, giving code enforcement a tool beyond fines to stop an ongoing feeding operation that is drawing deer or geese into a neighborhood.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 505.082 is a minor misdemeanor; a second or later violation is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, so a homeowner who keeps a ground feeding station running after a warning accrues a new charge daily. The City may also seek a Court of Common Pleas injunction against a chronic feeder in addition to criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still feed songbirds in my Medina backyard?
Is it illegal to feed geese at Medina's public parks?
What can the City do if a neighbor keeps feeding deer despite warnings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medina
Compare Medina to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.