Santa Maria, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Our research did not identify a Santa Barbara County ordinance that imposes a general prohibition on feeding wildlife such as coyotes, deer, bears, or raccoons in unincorporated areas. In the absence of a specific County rule, the controlling authority is California state law. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 251.1 prohibits harassment of game and nongame animals, and intentionally feeding wildlife in a way that lures or alters the behavior of big-game mammals can be treated as unlawful harassment. California regulations also prohibit knowingly feeding big-game mammals (such as deer and bear) as defined in the Fish and Game regulations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife discourages feeding wildlife because it habituates animals, increases human-wildlife conflict, and can spread disease. Separately, County and state nuisance and public-health rules can come into play where feeding attracts rodents or creates unsanitary conditions, and the Land Use & Development Code's animal-keeping standards (Section 35.42.060) require that animal-related activities not produce odor, vectors, or other nuisances. Residents in mountain-lion, bear, and coyote country are advised not to leave out food or unsecured garbage. Because the rules here are primarily state-level, anyone with a specific situation should confirm current requirements with CDFW.