Peoria, IL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Peoria does not have a single comprehensive wildlife-feeding ordinance. Instead, three frameworks apply. First, Chapter 18 of the Peoria Code of Ordinances at https://library.municode.com/il/peoria addresses property maintenance and prohibits accumulations of food waste or other materials that attract rodents — feeding stations that draw rats or mice can be cited. Second, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, under 17 IL Adm. Code 635 (https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/017/01700635sections.html), restricts deer feeding statewide as part of chronic wasting disease (CWD) management; direct supplemental feeding of deer is prohibited year-round in counties with confirmed CWD cases. Third, the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712) prohibits feeding or harassing protected migratory birds in ways that could harm them. In practice: bird feeders for songbirds are legal in Peoria if maintained to prevent spilled seed from attracting rodents; feeding deer, raccoons, or feral cats in volumes that create odor, attract rodents, or destabilize neighborhood wildlife populations is a citable nuisance. Feral-cat colony management requires coordination with Peoria County Animal Protection Services.