New Rochelle, NY Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- September 20, 2016, Ord. No. 180-2016
- Covered animals
- coyotes, deer, turkeys, raccoons, feral cats, birds
- Feeding zone
- public property within 100 feet of wildlife
- Maximum fine
- $250
- Maximum jail
- 15 days
- Applies to
- parks and public property only
Summary
New Rochelle bans feeding wildlife, including deer, geese, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, feral cats and pigeons, on any park or public property, and separately bars leaving out food, birdseed, salt or garbage in a way that attracts wildlife. Adopted in 2016 to curb rabies, Lyme disease and other zoonotic risks, a violation is an offense punishable by up to a $250 fine, 15 days in jail, or both.
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, provide food, or assist another person in the feeding of wildlife defined herein in, from, or upon any park or public property. No person shall purposely or knowingly leave or store any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, seed, birdseed, fruit or grain in a manner that would constitute an attractant to any wildlife as defined herein. ... Any violation of this article shall be considered an offense punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or by both a fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4601407; v60 updated 2025-12-02; through 12-02-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 319, Article I, adopted September 20, 2016 by Ordinance No. 180-2016 and repealing a 1996 waterfowl-feeding law, defines 'wildlife' broadly under § 319-2 to include any animal not normally domesticated in New York, expressly naming coyotes, deer, turkeys, feral cats, foxes, raccoons, skunks and birds including waterfowl and pigeons. 'Feeding' means placing any food substance on public property within 100 feet of any wildlife. Section 319-3 makes it unlawful to feed, provide food to, or help someone else feed wildlife in, from or upon any park or public property in the City, and separately prohibits purposely or knowingly storing refuse, garbage, pet food, forage products, salt, seed, birdseed, fruit or grain in a way that attracts wildlife.
The City Council's findings in § 319-1 cite rabies, Lyme disease, salmonellosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, distemper and encephalitis as diseases wildlife can transmit to people, pets and livestock, and note that raccoon roundworm can be fatal to humans and that scabies mites from wildlife cause mange in pets. The findings also state that animals fed by humans lose their natural fear of people and become more capable of inflicting injury. A violation of Article I is an offense under § 319-4, carrying a fine of not more than $250, imprisonment of not more than 15 days, or both.
The law targets feeding on City-owned parks and public property; it does not reach a resident feeding birds or wildlife on their own private yard.
Violations & Fines
Feeding deer, geese, coyotes, raccoons, feral cats or other wildlife on park or public property, or storing garbage, pet food, birdseed or salt where it attracts wildlife, is an offense under § 319-4. A conviction carries a fine of up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both, and applies City-wide to any public park or property, not just designated wildlife areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed deer or geese in my own backyard in New Rochelle?
What's the penalty for feeding pigeons or geese in a New Rochelle park?
Why did New Rochelle ban feeding wildlife?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Rochelle
New York rules heatmap·Compare New Rochelle to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle wildlife feeding.