Rockford, IL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 4-4
- Covered animals
- Wild mammals only
- Trigger
- Feeding that creates a health/safety hazard
- Fine range
- $50–$750 per Sec. 1-9
- Exemptions
- Lawful refuse, gardening, trap baiting
Summary
Rockford makes it unlawful to feed any wild mammal, by hand or by leaving out food, when doing so creates a hazard to public health or safety.
The feeding of any wild mammal by any means, including hand feeding or the placing or setting out of food to be left attended or unattended, which creates a hazard to public health or safety is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and to be unlawful.(c)Presumption. If any person places or sets out food that is, in fact, consumed by a wild mammal, that person shall be presumed to have fed a wild mammal. This provision shall not apply to persons setting out refuse or garbage for collection in conformance with the City Code, or to persons growing crops or gardens in conformance with the city zoning ordinance, or to the baiting of traps. (Code 1970, §§ 5-30—5-32; Ord. No. 1989-287-O, 10-30-1989)
Secs. 4-5—4-26. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 4-4 declares nuisance feeding of wild mammals unlawful, covering hand-feeding or placing/setting out food left attended or unattended, whenever it creates a public health or safety hazard. A presumption provision makes anyone whose set-out food is actually consumed by a wild mammal presumed to have fed it, unless the food was refuse or garbage set out for lawful collection, part of growing crops or gardens under the zoning ordinance, or bait in a trap. The ordinance targets deer, raccoons, coyotes and similar wild mammals rather than birds.
Violations & Fines
Violations fall under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-9: a fine of $50 to $750, or public service work, or both; each continuing day counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed deer or raccoons in my Rockford yard?
Does the feeding ban cover birds like geese or pigeons?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockford
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