Laguna Woods Municipal Code Ch. 5.20 Wild, Exotic and Nondomesticated Animals

No person shall keep or maintain any wild, exotic, or nondomesticated animal within the corporate City limits without first obtaining a permit from the Animal Services Manager. In addition to all information required in the application, the applicant shall substantiate, to the satisfaction of the Animal Services Manager, the following facts:

(1) The feral/exotic or nondomesticated animals, at the location proposed, will not jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health or safety; and

(2) The proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the number and type of animals for which the permit is requested without harm to the animals or material detrimental to the use, enjoyment or valuation of the property of other persons located in the vicinity of the site.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.010), 10-18-2000)

The fee for a wild/exotic or nondomesticated animal permit shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.020), 10-18-2000)

No person owning or, having charge, custody, control or possession of any wild/exotic or nondomesticated animal shall permit or allow the same to run at large upon public or private property in such manner as to endanger the life or limb or any person lawfully entering such premises.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.030), 10-18-2000)

This chapter shall not apply to any wild/exotic or nondomesticated animal caged in a safe and humane manner while being transported through the City, or while such animal is within the City under the control of a City licensed circus, carnival, traveling show or collection of animals for exhibition.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.040), 10-18-2000)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to have, keep, or maintain any hive or swarm of bees within the City without a permit. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the keeping of bees within an educational institution for study, or observation within a physician's office or laboratory for medical research, treatment, or other scientific purposes, provided they are not permitted to fly at large.

(b) No person shall have, keep, or maintain any apiary of ten or more colonies, hives or swarms of bees without first obtaining a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission.

(c) Prior to a permit being issued, in addition to all information required in the application, the applicant shall substantiate, to the satisfaction of the Animal Services Manager, the following facts:

(1) The apiary, hive, colony or swarm of bees, at the location proposed, will not jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health or safety; and

(2) All beehives, colonies, apiaries and swarms of bees are registered with the Orange County Department of Agriculture.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.050), 10-18-2000)

The Animal Services Manager may revoke any permit provided for under this chapter for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.060), 10-18-2000)

(a) Purpose and intent.

(1) The purpose and intent of this section is to control the presence of coyotes and other wildlife predators in urbanized settings by discouraging practices that are reasonably likely to provide sustenance for those predators, whether directly or indirectly by supporting the presence of rodents, vermin, and other wildlife that may serve as prey therefore. By controlling the presence of coyotes and other wildlife predators in urbanized settings, the City seeks to promote public health, safety, and welfare, and deter dangerous encounters between wildlife and humans and their pets.

(2) This section is not intended to be exclusive and compliance with its provisions shall not excuse noncompliance with any federal, state, or other local laws.

(b) Feeding prohibited. No person shall feed or take any other action which is reasonably likely to provide sustenance for coyotes, rodents, vermin, or other wildlife. For the purpose of this section, "action which is reasonably likely to provide sustenance for coyotes, rodents, vermin, or other wildlife" means any action, whether intentional or not, that results in any food, drink, or other substance that is edible or consumable by any coyotes, rodents, vermin, or other wildlife being located outside of any building for any amount of time. The prohibition established by this section also includes any action in violation of any wildlife feeding prohibitions set forth in California Code of Regulations sections 251.1 or 251.3.

(1) Examples of actions which are reasonably likely to provide sustenance for rodents, vermin, or wildlife may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Depositing, leaving, placing, or throwing outdoors or directly providing to any wild animal any bread, eggs, food scraps, fruits, grain, kernels, mealworms, meat, millet, nectar, nuts, pet food, seed, soup bones, or vegetables.

b. Leaving pet food or water bowls unattended, outdoors, in an area that is readily accessible by any wild animal.

c. Allowing grain, kernels, mealworms, millet, nectar, or seed within a bird feeder to fall and remain or accumulate outdoors.

d. Allowing unharvested fruits or vegetables to decay or rot on a plant or tree.

e. Allowing fruits or vegetables that have fallen, been harvested, or otherwise detached or been removed from a plant or tree to decay, rot, remain, or accumulate outdoors.

(c) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to the following:

(1) The interior of residences or other buildings.

(2) Waste receptacles that comply with applicable City regulations.

(3) The natural growth or abscission of berries, branches, flowers, seeds, stalks, stems, leaves, nuts, and roots grown as part of plants or trees that are not generally commercially marketed as producing edible fruits or vegetables for the purpose of human consumption (e.g., Holly (Ilex opaca), Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera), Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana), and Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)).

(4) Food and drinks that:

a. Are actively attended or being consumed by a person. This subsection is intended to provide limited exemptions for food and drinks set out for human consumption at actively attended events (e.g., meals at park benches and picnics). The use of "actively attended" in this subsection shall not be interpreted as exempting the activity described in subsection (b)(1)a.

b. Are fully enclosed in containers or packaging.

(5) Pet food and water bowls that are located:

a. At any restaurant or fast/fast casual food establishment, provided such bowls are only placed on the ground when actively being used by the pet and actively attended by a person. Once no longer in active use by the pet, the contents of bowls must be removed and disposed of in a manner that does not result in a violation of this section.

b. On a balcony or other surface located on the second or higher floor of any building.

c. Within a patio or yard fully enclosed by fences, walls, doors, and/or gates at least five feet in height, when all doors and/or gates leading outdoors are closed and secured or actively attended by a person.

d. In an outdoor area and used for the purpose of providing food or water to a pet when being walked or recreating, provided such bowls are only placed on the ground when actively being used by the pet and actively attended by a person. Once no longer in active use by the pet, the contents of bowls must be removed and disposed of in a manner that does not result in a violation of this section.

(6) Small, incidental amounts of grain, kernels, mealworms, millet, nectar, or seed intended to be dispensed from a bird feeder which falls or accumulates outdoors through no active intent of any person. This subsection is intended to provide limited exemptions for activities such as foraging and discarding by birds, interference by squirrels and other wildlife, wind, and accidental spills that the owner of or person attending the birdfeeder has made a reasonable attempt to clean. This subsection does not exempt activity for which an enforcement officer has witnessed or collected evidence to support the attraction of rats.

(7) Seed that is thrown, deposited, or placed outdoors in connection with a landscape activity sanctioned by the owner of any property.

(8) Fruit or vegetable plants or trees that are located:

a. At any community garden/garden center, as that term is defined in Chapter 13.06 of this Code.

b. On a balcony or other surface located on the second or higher floor of any building.

c. Within a patio or yard fully enclosed by fences, walls, doors, and/or gates at least five feet in height, when all doors and/or gates leading outdoors are closed and secured or actively attended by a person.

d. Within netting or a wire-mesh protective cage with openings no larger than two inches.

(9) Water:

a. Contained within a bird bath, fountain, hot tub, penalty area on a golf course, swimming pool, wading pool, or similar ornamental or recreational amenity or water feature.

b. Dispensed from any drinking fountain.

c. Dispensed for any landscape irrigation purpose.

d. Disposed from any pet bowl onto dirt, grass, or another pervious surface.

(10) Activities directly related to providing sustenance for animals receiving care or other services at any commercial animal establishment that has been duly licensed or permitted to do so in accordance with Chapter 5.10 of this Code.

(11) Activities directly related to providing sustenance for horses at any equestrian center.

(12) Other activities or facilities that the City Manager determines are substantially similar to the nature of one or more exemptions specifically identified in this section.

(d) Use of technology. The City Manager may use surveillance cameras and similar technology to identify violations of this section, provided such technology is not directly linked to any law enforcement database. The use of technology shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. No surveillance camera shall be affixed to or installed on any private property on a permanent basis or without authorization of the property owner of record for the parcel where it is to be placed. Recorded footage from surveillance cameras shall be retained for periods of no more than seven calendar days, unless otherwise required by applicable federal or state law or necessary for actual or pending enforcement action.

(e) Communication with state agencies. The City Manager may file complaints and reports with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or successor agency, and other state agencies, regarding known or suspected feeding of wildlife that could violate California Code of Regulations sections 251.1 or 251.3.

(f) References. This section may be referred to as the "Wildlife Feeding Ordinance."

(Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.22.070), 10-18-2000; Ord. No. 26-02, § 3(Exh. A), 3-18-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 26-02, § 3(Exh. A), adopted March 18, 2026, amended the title of § 5.20.070 to read as herein set out. The former § 5.20.070 title pertained to prohibiting of feeding certain wildlife.