San Jose, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Big Game
- Banned by CA Fish & Game §251.3
- Nuisance Feeding
- Coyote and raccoon treated as nuisance
- Indirect Feeding
- Pet food left outside counts
- Enforcement Area
- Focus on foothill-adjacent neighborhoods
- Coordination
- Vector Control on health concerns
Summary
San Jose prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife that creates a nuisance or public safety concern, including coyotes, raccoons, deer, and wild turkeys. Feeding can attract predators to neighborhoods near Alum Rock, Almaden, and Silver Creek foothills, and city enforcement actively responds to complaints.
Home / HWC Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit 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 Toolkit
Full Breakdown
San Jose does not have a single standalone wildlife-feeding ordinance, but combines state Fish and Game Code restrictions with municipal nuisance provisions. 3 prohibits the intentional feeding of big game mammals such as deer, elk, bears, and mountain lions. Feeding of coyotes, which have become common in San Jose neighborhoods bordering open space, is discouraged by Santa Clara County Vector Control and can be cited as a public nuisance when it habituates animals to human food sources. Raccoon, skunk, and opossum feeding is treated as a vector and public-health issue under county health code.
Ground feeding of birds that attracts rodents or wild turkeys in numbers creating nuisance is also subject to code enforcement. San Jose neighborhoods bordering Alum Rock Park, Almaden Quicksilver, Silver Creek hills, and Santa Teresa regularly see coyote, deer, and wild turkey activity; intentional feeding in these areas is particularly scrutinized due to human-wildlife conflict risk. Pet food left outside overnight is considered indirect feeding. Violations start with warning letters but can escalate to administrative fines and, in the case of big game feeding, misdemeanor charges under state law.
Violations & Fines
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact San Jose code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed the deer in my yard?
Is bird feeding okay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle wildlife feeding.