New York County, NY Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Wildlife feeding in New York County is regulated on two tracks. Within city parks, including Central Park, Riverside Park, Battery Park, Washington Square, and Madison Square, NYC Parks Rules 1-04(g) prohibit feeding any animal except as specifically authorized. This bars feeding squirrels, pigeons, ducks, geese, and raccoons and carries a 50 dollar to 250 dollar summons. On private property, NYC Health Code section 151.02 prohibits conditions that harbor or attract rats, which the NYC Department of Health interprets broadly to include unmanaged pigeon feeding, outdoor feeding stations that spill grain, and feral cat colony feeders without proper Trap Neuter Return registration. Pigeon feeding in particular has been the subject of NYC Health citations on Upper West Side sidewalks and near Chinatown. Feral cat caretakers registered with Neighborhood Cats or the NYC Feral Cat Initiative are exempt under a written protocol that requires prompt cleanup and enclosed feeding stations. Persistent violators face escalating Health Code fines up to 2,000 dollars and cleanup orders. Wild bird feeders hanging in private yards are permitted so long as they do not create rat conditions.