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SB1420 • 2026

public nuisance; pigeons

SB1420 - public nuisance; pigeons

Children Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Frank Carroll
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date or when the law will begin enforcement.

SB1420: Rules on Feeding Pigeons

This bill makes it illegal to feed pigeons in Arizona counties with more than 280,000 people and sets penalties for breaking the rule.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends existing law to list pigeons as an exception, meaning feeding them is no longer allowed under general wildlife rules.
  • Creates a new section that specifically bans people from feeding pigeons.
  • Allows private citizens to file lawsuits against anyone who breaks the pigeon-feeding ban.
  • Sets penalties starting with a warning for a first offense and fines or petty offenses for repeat violations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People living in Arizona counties with more than 280,000 residents.
  • Individuals who keep pigeons in enclosures on their property if they follow specific rules about location, space, and smell.
  • Private citizens who wish to enforce the law through court action.

Terms To Know

Petty offense
A minor crime that is less serious than a misdemeanor but still punishable by law.
Civil penalty
A fine paid to the government for breaking a rule, not involving jail time.
Private right of action
The legal ability for an individual person to sue someone else in court without waiting for the government to act.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies in counties with a population larger than 280,000 people.
  • People who keep pigeons inside specific enclosures are allowed to feed them if they follow strict rules about location, space, smell, and zoning codes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: None

  4. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1420 - public nuisance; pigeons

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB1420 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
public nuisance; pigeons

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1420

Introduced by

Senator
Carroll

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-2927, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; AMENDING TITLE 13, CHAPTER 29, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY
ADDING SECTION 13-2927.01; RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 13-2927, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-2927.

Unlawful feeding of wildlife; classification

A. A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by
intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise
enticing wildlife into an area, except for:

1. Persons lawfully taking or holding wildlife
pursuant to title 17 or pursuant to rules or orders of the Arizona game and
fish commission.

2. Public employees or authorized agents acting
within the scope of their authority for public safety or for wildlife
management purposes.

3. Normal agricultural or livestock operational
practices.

4. Tree squirrels or birds
except
pigeons
.

B. This section applies in a county with a
population of more than two hundred eighty thousand persons.

C. Unlawful feeding of wildlife is a petty offense.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 13, chapter 29, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2927.01, to read:

START_STATUTE
13-2927.01.

Unlawful feeding of pigeons; penalties; classification;
definitions

A.
It is
unlawful for a person to feed pigeons.

b. This
section does not:

1. Apply to a person who keeps
pigeons in an enclosure:

(
a
) That is not
located in the front yard area of the property on which the pigeons are kept.

(
b
) That has at
least one square foot of floor space for each mature pigeon that is kept or
housed in the enclosure.

(
c
) That is in
compliance with applicable provisions of city or town Zoning and Building
codes.

(
d
) In which
the person feeds and waters the pigeons within the confines of the enclosure
and does not provide food and water for pigeons outside of the enclosure.

(
e
) That is
kept in such condition that no smell or odor arises from the enclosure to the
injury, annoyance or inconvenience of a reasonable person of ordinary
sensitivities.

2. Prohibit a person from feeding
other birds using practices or devices that are designed to prevent pigeons
from obtaining food.

3. Prohibit a person from feeding
pigeons in accordance with a government-approved plan for wildlife management.

C. A PERSON MAY BRING A PRIVATE RIGHT
OF ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS SECTION.

D. A person who violates this
section:

1. For a first violation, is subject
to a warning.

2. For a second violation, is subject
to The imposition of a civil penalty of $100.

3. For a third or subsequent
violation, is guilty of a petty offense.

E. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Feed" means to
knowingly provide food.

2. "Food" includes grains,
seeds, greens, bread, breadcrumbs, fishmeal, waste food, food scraps or other
feed or nutritive substances including garbage that is not properly disposed of
or contained.

3. "Pigeon" means any bird
of the family columbidae and species columba livia, commonly known as the rock
dove, homing pigeon or carrier pigeon.

END_STATUTE