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Royal Palm Beach council approves first reading of ordinance limiting animal feeding
Summary
The Village Council approved on first reading Ordinance 1068 to prohibit feeding wild or domestic animals in circumstances that create nuisances or unsanitary conditions; staff said the rule emphasizes education but includes enforcement steps if voluntary compliance fails.
The Village of Royal Palm Beach council voted unanimously on first reading to approve Ordinance 1068, a change to Chapter 5 of the village code aimed at reducing nuisances and unsanitary conditions caused by feeding wildlife and domestic animals.
Staff member Ray Hall told the council the ordinance creates definitions and a new Section 5‑18 addressing "nuisances and habitual nuisances caused by animals," and establishes a tiered approach that starts with education and encourages voluntary compliance before applying enforcement. "We put together some information," Hall said, and the draft includes "a system that is a tiered type of system" supported by legal language prepared by the village attorney.
Councilmembers asked for clarification about what would happen after code enforcement escalates. Councilwoman Roduski asked whether the village or Florida Fish and Wildlife would remove animals and whether removal could lead to euthanasia; Hall replied, "That that's correct. It's a directive with the FWC that if they are to remove that they will be, extinguished in a humane way." The mayor also said staff had reached out to affected residents and had seen voluntary compliance in at least one case.
Councilwoman Roduski moved to approve the ordinance on first reading; the motion carried unanimously. Because this was first reading, the ordinance will return to the council for subsequent readings or final adoption according to the village's legislative schedule.
