Providence, RI Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 12-119, Providence Code of Ordinances
- Container height
- At least 48 inches above ground
- Fine range
- $1 to $500 per offense
- Max jail time
- Up to 30 days
- Related rule
- § 12-118 covers domesticated animal feeding
Summary
Providence bans loose wild-bird feeding on the ground: food must sit in a suitable container raised at least 48 inches off the ground under City Code § 12-119.
No person shall feed wild birds other than in suitable containers for the food, elevated at least forty-eight (48) inches above the ground level.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Anyone who feeds wild birds in Providence must use a container built for the food and elevate it at least 48 inches above ground, per City Code § 12-119. The companion rule for domesticated fowl, birds, and animals (§ 12-118) similarly bars scattering feed loose on open ground and requires that leftover food not stay where rats can reach it. Both sit in the sanitation chapter, aimed at rat and vermin control rather than wildlife management. Violations carry the Code's general penalty: a fine of $1 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, under § 1-10.
Violations & Fines
Violating either feeding section is enforced as a general Code violation: $1-$500 fine, up to 30 days jail, and each day of continued violation counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I scatter bird seed on the ground in Providence?
Does this rule cover feeding stray cats or squirrels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
Compare Providence to another location·View the Rhode Island animal ordinances overview
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle wildlife feeding.