Palm Beach County, FL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Palm Beach County Code § 21-23(b)
- Where it applies
- County park property only
- Max fine
- $500 per violation per day
- Max jail time
- Up to 60 days
- Countywide raccoon rule
- § 4-16(f) bans raccoon feeding anywhere
Summary
Feeding any exotic or native animal in a Palm Beach County park is strictly forbidden unless the Parks and Recreation Director authorizes it, with violators facing fines up to $500 per day.
(b)The feeding by any person, of any exotic or native animal in a County park is hereby strictly forbidden unless specifically authorized by the Department Director.(c)Exotic animals, with the exception of those authorized by the Director, roaming free in County parks are hereby declared a nuisance. The director has the authority to establish processes and procedures to control, and remove from the park, species that are declared to constitute a nuisance.(d)The Director is hereby authorized to declare certain native species, located in identified parks, to constitute a nuisance. Native species shall be determined to be a nuisance when the Director deems that the number, location, behavior or other characteristic of the native species constitutes a hazard to human health and/or safety or to the resources of the particular park. (Ord. No. 04-022, § 8, 8-17-04; Ord. No. 2011-003, § 4, 2-15-11)
Full Breakdown
Palm Beach County Code § 21-23(b) bans feeding any exotic or native animal, raccoons, iguanas, ducks, geese, whatever shows up at your picnic table, anywhere on county park property, unless the Parks and Recreation Director specifically authorizes it. The rule lives inside the county's Parks and Recreation Ordinance, so it covers land the Parks Department operates, not private yards or public streets. Separately, a county-wide rabies-control provision, § 4-16(f), makes it unlawful to feed, or fail to prevent unintentional feeding of, any raccoon anywhere in Palm Beach County, park or not.
Violations & Fines
Feeding wildlife in a county park without Director authorization is a citable ordinance violation under § 21-46: up to $500 per violation per day, up to 60 days in jail, or both, plus ejection from the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed ducks or geese at a Palm Beach County park?
Does this ban apply to my backyard in unincorporated Palm Beach County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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