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

Based on available sources, unincorporated Sonoma County does not appear to have a separate countywide ordinance broadly prohibiting the feeding of all wildlife. The controlling law is at the state level. Under Title 14, Section 251.3 of the California Code of Regulations, no person may knowingly feed big game mammals, a category that includes deer, which are common across Sonoma County. The California Fish and Game Code also treats feeding that habituates wild animals as a form of harassment in some circumstances. These rules exist because feeding wildlife draws animals near roads and homes, erodes their natural wariness of people, and can create public-safety and nuisance problems. Separately, conditions on a property that attract vermin, create odors, or otherwise injure public health, including those caused by leaving food out, can be abated as a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 5 (for example, the nuisance provisions at Section 5-126). Residents should also note that Sonoma County participates in wildlife management through its Fish and Wildlife Commission. Because the specifics can change and local conditions vary, confirm any current wildlife-feeding restrictions with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the county before feeding or leaving food accessible to wild animals.