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Whittier, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
WMC § 12.44.040(F)
Covers
Birds, fowl, fish, and animals
Permission authority
Parks, recreation & community services director
Penalty
$100-$500 escalating fines (§12.44.080)
Location
All city parks, playgrounds, and city real property

Summary

Whittier Municipal Code Section 12.44.040(F) makes it unlawful to feed, or attempt to feed, any bird, fowl, fish, or animal in a city park, playground, or other city real property without written permission from the parks director, alongside a ban on wounding, killing, or catching wildlife there.

No person shall do any of the acts specified in this section within the limits or boundaries of any public park, playground or real property of the city without written permission from the director of parks, recreation and community services or his/her designee: ... F. Wound, kill or catch, feed or attempt to wound, kill, catch or feed any bird, fowl, fish or animal;

Full Breakdown

040's opening clause bars anyone from doing any of the acts listed in the section within a Whittier public park, playground, or other city real property without written permission from the director of parks, recreation and community services or a designee. Subsection F specifically prohibits wounding, killing, catching, feeding, or attempting to wound, kill, catch, or feed any bird, fowl, fish, or animal. The provision sits in the same list as bans on setting off fireworks (A), damaging plants or rock (C), swimming in ornamental waters (D), and camping (E), showing the city regulates wildlife interaction as part of its general park-conduct code rather than a standalone wildlife statute.

Because the ban is written as a default prohibition that written departmental permission can lift, an organized program, such as a supervised nature or education activity approved in advance by the parks director, could be authorized where informal feeding by park visitors could not. 44 fine schedule that governs every other park-conduct violation, and signs are required to be posted giving notice of the chapter's rules and penalties.

Violations & Fines

Feeding, or attempting to feed, any bird, fish, or other animal in a Whittier park without the parks director's written permission violates Section 12.44.040(F) and is punishable under Section 12.44.080: up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second offense of the same rule within a year, and up to $500 for each subsequent offense within that year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed the ducks at a Whittier park?
No. Section 12.44.040(F) prohibits feeding, or attempting to feed, any bird, fowl, fish, or animal within any public park, playground, or other real property of the city, unless the director of parks, recreation and community services has given written permission in advance.
Does the Whittier wildlife-feeding ban cover stray cats too?
Yes. The rule in Section 12.44.040(F) is written broadly to cover any bird, fowl, fish, or animal, so feeding stray or feral animals on city park property without the parks director's written permission is treated the same as feeding wild birds or fish under this section.
What's the fine for feeding wildlife in a Whittier park?
Section 12.44.080 punishes any violation of Chapter 12.44, including the wildlife-feeding ban, with a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second offense of the same rule within a year, and up to $500 for each further offense within that year.

Sources & Official References

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