Roseville, MN Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Chapter 407 of the Roseville City Code exists to manage wildlife and eliminate intentional feeding. Section 407.01 gives three reasons: wildlife management in urban areas protects the health of residents and animals, population management keeps resources in balance and reduces nuisances, and intentional feeding causes unwanted concentrations of animals and raises the potential for car and animal crashes and the spread of disease.

The ban in section 407.03(a) reaches every wild animal in the city. Section 407.02 defines a wild animal as any animal that is not normally domesticated in the state, and names raccoons, turkeys, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes, skunks and waterfowl. The definition says "including, but not limited to," so the named animals are examples, not a closed list.

What counts as feeding is set by volume and placement. Under subsection (b), distributing one gallon or more within one 24-hour period of grain, vegetables, fruits, nuts, hay, or a salt lick on the ground or a location less than five feet above the ground is intentional feeding. So is feeding at any other location or in any other manner that regularly attracts wild animals.

Subsection (c) lists six exemptions. They cover incidental living food sources such as fruit trees and other live vegetation, and common small backyard birds fed from self-enclosed feeding devices or containers at least five feet above the ground. They also cover persons who cannot physically place materials five feet or higher, as long as they comply with the other standards in subsection (b). City employees or agents, county, state and federal officials, and veterinarians with wild animals in their custody or under their management are exempt, as are persons caring for animals at the city wildlife rehabilitation center and persons bringing wildlife into the city for educational purposes.

Under subsection (e), the community development department is authorized to implement and enforce the section, and the community development director promulgates rules, regulations or policies consistent with it.