Somerville prohibits feeding of wildlife that creates nuisance or public health risks, and MassWildlife restricts feeding of deer, bears, and turkeys statewide.
Feeding wildlife in Somerville is regulated through the Board of Health nuisance provisions and the state wildlife code. The city prohibits any feeding that attracts rats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, coyotes, or large bird flocks in numbers that create a public health risk, odor, or property damage. This includes scattering bread, rice, or other food for pigeons and feral waterfowl, a common issue at public parks and around triple-decker backyards. Bird feeders are generally allowed if kept clean and spill-free; if they attract rats, the Board of Health can order their removal under rodent control regulations. Massachusetts law separately restricts intentional feeding of deer and prohibits feeding bears under 321 CMR 2.02. Somerville does not allow outdoor cat feeding that creates colonies without a managed TNR program through the MSPCA. Violations begin at 100 dollars plus abatement orders.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle wildlife feeding.
See how Somerville's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.