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

Feeding pigeons is not illegal in New York City. The often-repeated claim that NYC Administrative Code §17-195 or a "Local Law 46 of 2007" imposes a $1,000 fine for feeding pigeons is incorrect, that pigeon-feeding bill was proposed in 2007 and never enacted, and §17-195 does not address pigeon feeding.

The rule that actually governs is NYC Parks Rule 56 RCNY §1-04(g)(2): "No person shall feed animals in any park (including any zoo area) except unconfined squirrels and birds, and where specifically authorized by the Commissioner." Because pigeons are birds, feeding them in city parks from Central Park to Prospect Park is permitted. The Commissioner may, however, designate specific areas where all feeding of animals is prohibited, and feeding in such a posted area, or feeding wildlife other than squirrels and birds (for example raccoons), is a violation enforced by the Parks Enforcement Patrol.

Separately, the NYC Health Code (Article 151, on rats and pests) reaches conditions that harbor or attract rats. Leaving food out, including scattered birdseed or bread, in a way that draws rats can trigger a Health Code violation from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, independent of the parks feeding rule. So while feeding pigeons itself is not banned, doing it in a way that creates a rat or sanitation problem can still draw a summons.