Massachusetts prohibits feeding black bears statewide (321 CMR 2.15). MassWildlife enforces. Norfolk County's Blue Hills and Milton-Canton area see regular bear activity. Deer and turkey feeding also regulated.
Massachusetts regulates wildlife feeding under 321 CMR 2.15 (implementing MGL c. 131). Intentional feeding of black bears is prohibited statewide; coyote and fox feeding strongly discouraged. MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) enforces. The Blue Hills Reservation (DCR-managed, spanning Milton, Quincy, Canton, Randolph, and Braintree) sees regular black bear activity; bird feeders in those towns must be taken down April 1 - November 30 per MassWildlife advisory. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth all have guidance warning against feeding coyotes and turkeys but no town-specific ordinance. Pet food must not be left outside overnight under general nuisance provisions. Under MGL c. 131 §5, harassing wildlife (beyond non-lethal hazing of problem animals) is prohibited. Feral cat colonies: some towns allow managed TNR programs coordinated with MSPCA.
Bear feeding: MassWildlife citation, $50-$500 under MGL c. 131. Coyote feeding creating nuisance: BOH nuisance order. Repeat offenders may face additional local enforcement.
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not regulate amplified music. Each municipality requires entertainment licenses or one-day amplified sound permits under MGL c. 140 §183A...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not handle abandoned vehicles. MGL c. 90B §2 allows police to remove abandoned vehicles after 72 hours. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth t...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not restrict rainwater harvesting. MA has no statewide restrictions on residential rain barrel or cistern use. Many Norfolk County towns ...
Norfolk County, MA
Brookline enacted the first MA town-wide ban on new artificial turf on town property (2023 Town Meeting Art. 14). Other Norfolk County towns allow turf resid...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County has no native plant rule. MA Pollinator Plan and Stretch Code encourage natives. Brookline and Quincy offer climate-resilient landscape guidan...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not regulate outdoor lighting. Several towns (Dover, Sherborn, Medfield) have dark-sky bylaws. State-level, MGL c. 40 §21 enables local l...
See how Norfolk County's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.