Orange County, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

In unincorporated Orange County, feeding wild animals is primarily governed by California state wildlife regulations rather than a dedicated OC Animal Care ordinance. Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, section 251.3, provides that no person shall knowingly feed big game mammals, defined in section 350 to include deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, black bear, and Nelson bighorn sheep. Section 251.1 separately prohibits harassing, herding, or driving game and nongame birds and mammals, where 'harass' means an intentional act that disrupts an animal's normal behavior patterns such as breeding, feeding, or sheltering — conduct that aggressive or sustained feeding can implicate. The state has used these rules to fine people for feeding wildlife. Beyond state law, intentionally feeding coyotes and other non-domesticated predators creates a recognized safety hazard, and many California jurisdictions have adopted local no-feeding ordinances; in Orange County, residents should check whether their specific community or any HOA rules add restrictions. Feeding that draws rats, coyotes, or other nuisance wildlife onto neighboring property can also be addressed through general nuisance and health-code enforcement. Note that feeding feral cats is not itself a state crime, but leaving food out can both attract protected wildlife (raising harassment concerns) and, by 'keeping' the cats, trigger local animal limits.