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Council removes fixed bird‑feeder exception from nuisance code after complaints about rodents and concentrations of wildlife
Summary
Belleair Beach approved deleting an exception that had exempted fixed bird feeders and certain backyard feeding practices from the nuisance provision, citing complaints about concentrated birds and rodent attraction; staff said the change simplifies enforcement.
Council members reviewed a proposed change to chapter 22 that would delete the sentence exempting fixed bird feeders and certain on‑site feeding devices from the anti‑feeding nuisance provision. Staff said the exception had created confusion and that in practice some residents spread seed in ways that attracted large congregations of birds and, in some cases, rodents.
One councilor noted having seen complaints and damage linked to wildlife feeding. “They also attract rats,” a speaker said of some feeding practices, explaining why neighbors had complained. After discussion, a motion to delete the last sentence of the subsection was moved, seconded and approved at the meeting. Staff said the edit is intended to leave the city able to address concentrated wildlife‑feeding that creates a public nuisance while not banning casual use of parks as appropriate.
The city will publish the revised code language and enforcement guidance; staff advised residents to use park locations (tail pond park was cited) for recreational feeding to avoid private‑property nuisance issues.
