Petaluma, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Area covered
- city parks only
- Wildlife defined
- ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, deer
- Feral cat feeding
- separately banned, §9.14.110(D)
- Enacted
- Ordinance 2185 NCS, 2004
- Penalty
- misdemeanor or infraction, per day
Summary
Petaluma bans feeding wildlife, defined broadly to cover ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels, skunks and deer, inside its city parks. Municipal Code §9.08.210 makes it unlawful to feed wildlife or leave food accessible to it within any city park; feeding wildlife outside parks is not covered by this section.
9.08.210 Feeding of wildlife. A. It is unlawful to feed wildlife or leave food accessible to wildlife within any city park. B. Wildlife is defined to include any feral animal, including but not limited to, ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and/or deer.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2931 NCS, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
210, enacted by Ordinance 2185 NCS in 2004, targets feeding of wild animals specifically inside the city's park system. " The ban reaches both intentional feeding and inadvertent access, since simply leaving food where wildlife can get to it inside a park violates the section even without a person directly feeding an animal. The scope is limited to city parks; the text does not extend to feeding wildlife on private property or public streets elsewhere in the city. 110(D), independently prohibits feeding feral cats specifically within city parks and within the Petaluma Wetlands along the Petaluma River, and declares feral cats and their unauthorized feeding a public nuisance except when done by a feral cat care organization registered with Petaluma animal services. 32's general enforcement scheme.
Violations & Fines
Feeding wildlife in a city park in violation of §9.08.210 falls under Title 9's general penalty scheme. Per §9.32.030, it is a misdemeanor unless charged as an infraction at the prosecutor's discretion, and §9.32.020 treats each day of continued violation as a separate offense enforceable by animal control, police, or the city attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed ducks or geese at a Petaluma park?
Can I feed deer or raccoons in my own backyard in Petaluma?
Are feral cats covered by the wildlife-feeding ban?
What is the penalty for feeding wildlife in a Petaluma park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Petaluma
California rules heatmap·Compare Petaluma to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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