Wildlife Feeding: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do wildlife feeding rules compare between Daly City, CA and San Mateo, CA?
Daly City and San Mateo have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City does not have a stand-alone wildlife-feeding ordinance, but feeding wild animals is regulated through Daly City Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) and Title 7 (Health and Sanitation) - which let the city abate conditions that attract rodents, raccoons, skunks, opossums, coyotes, or other wildlife into residential areas - and through California's wildlife-harassment regulation at 14 CCR §251.1. State law also makes it unlawful to abandon animals (Cal. Penal Code §597s). The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's 'Keep Me Wild' campaign explicitly discourages feeding wildlife because it habituates animals, creates public-safety hazards, and can trigger depredation kill permits.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
Wildlife feeding in San Mateo is discouraged through the city's nuisance provisions and California Fish and Game Code Section 251.1 which prohibits feeding big game mammals. San Mateo County Animal Control handles wildlife complaints. Leaving food that attracts rodents or pest wildlife may be cited as a nuisance.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Local code | Daly City Muni Code Titles 6, 7 and 8 | - |
| State regulation | 14 CCR §251.1 (harassment of wildlife) | - |
| CDFW guidance | Keep Me Wild campaign - do not feed wildlife | - |
| Common Daly City species | Coyotes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, deer | - |
| Trash storage | Required under Title 7 (Health and Sanitation) | - |
| State Law | - | CA Fish & Game Code §251.1 |
| Wildlife Contact | - | Peninsula Humane Society — 650-340-7022 |
| Vector Control | - | SM County Environmental Health |
| Common Wildlife | - | Raccoons, coyotes, deer |
| City Enforcement | - | Code Enforcement — 650-522-7200 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Is it illegal to feed coyotes or raccoons in Daly City?
There is no specific stand-alone feeding ban in Daly City's code, but feeding wildlife that creates a sanitation problem, a rodent attractant, or a public-safety hazard is enforceable under Daly City Muni Code Titles 6, 7 and 8 as a sanitation violation or public nuisance. CDFW's 'Keep Me Wild' guidance explicitly warns that fed wildlife often must later be killed under depredation permits.
What about leaving pet food outside?
Leaving pet food, water, or kitchen scraps outside is the most common way Daly City residents inadvertently feed wildlife. The Health and Sanitation provisions in Title 7 require residents to control attractants. Code enforcement typically issues a warning first and a citation if the problem persists.
Can I feed wild birds?
Songbird feeders are generally allowed if they are kept clean, do not spill seed that attracts rodents, and do not create a nuisance for neighbors. Pigeon feeding that creates flock concentrations is treated as a sanitation problem under Title 7.
San Mateo FAQ
Is it illegal to feed deer in San Mateo?
Yes. California Fish and Game Code Section 251.1 prohibits feeding big game mammals including deer.
Who handles wildlife complaints in San Mateo?
Contact the Peninsula Humane Society at 650-340-7022 for wildlife issues. For rodent and pest problems, contact San Mateo County Environmental Health.
Can I be fined for feeding raccoons?
While not specifically prohibited by name, feeding wildlife that creates nuisance conditions can be cited under the city's nuisance provisions.
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