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Sacramento, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

No Feeding of
No feeding of deer, coyotes, turkeys
Parkway-specific Prohibitions
Parkway-specific prohibitions
CDFW code Backs
CDFW code backs big-game rules
Bird Feeders Allowed
Bird feeders allowed with limits
Fines Start at
Fines start at 100 dollars

Summary

Sacramento prohibits feeding wildlife including deer, coyotes, turkeys, and waterfowl along the American River Parkway under SMC 9.44 and CDFW code.

Vision: To proactively address human-wildlife conflicts and improve wildlife incident responses; to support safe human-wildlife interactions; and to increase understanding, awareness and appreciation of wildlife in California. Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources such as food, water, and habitat. As the State's trustee agency for fish and wildlife, CDFW has developed a robust HWC To

Full Breakdown

Feeding wildlife in Sacramento is banned under SMC 9.44 and is further restricted on the American River Parkway under Sacramento County code. California Fish and Game Code also makes it unlawful to intentionally feed large mammals such as deer or bears. The rule targets the food-conditioning of coyotes, raccoons, and wild turkeys that lead to aggressive encounters. Bird feeders are allowed with limits; feeding that attracts rodents or creates a nuisance is a code violation. First-offense fines start at 100 dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put out a salt lick for deer?
No. Feeding large mammals is a violation of state Fish and Game rules in addition to city code.
What about feeding stray cats?
Feeding feral cats falls under separate rules. TNR colonies can register through Sacramento Animal Care.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sacramento

All Sacramento rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview

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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Sacramento County handle wildlife feeding.

Citrus Heights, CA
Some Restrictions
Rancho Cordova, CA
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Folsom, CA
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