Long Beach Wildlife Ordinances & Trapping Liability
Long Beach’s coastal environment, combined with the Los Angeles River corridor and large green spaces like El Dorado Park, creates a unique urban wildlife interface. Skunks, raccoons, coyotes, and Roof Rats use these natural waterways and parklands to migrate directly into residential neighborhoods like Bixby Knolls and Belmont Shore.
The greatest liability for Long Beach homeowners isn’t property damage; it is the legal exposure of handling nuisance wildlife illegally. If you rent, attempting DIY trapping or exclusion can violate your lease, while landlords have strict legal duties to perform structural exclusion (see our Long Beach Tenant Rights Guide). For severe cases involving financial hardship, explore Long Beach Pest Assistance Programs.
The California Catch & Dump Ban: Under California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 465.5, it is strictly illegal to trap and relocate furbearing mammals (raccoons, skunks, opossums) off your property. Legally trapped animals must be either released immediately on the site where caught or euthanized.
Long Beach Wildlife Navigation:
Unlicensed Trappers near El Dorado Park & Coastal Areas
Avoid “budget” handyman trappers offering cheap trap-and-release services in Long Beach. If an unlicensed individual captures a skunk on your property and illegally dumps it in El Dorado Nature Center or along the LA River, the Department of Fish & Wildlife can trace the liability back to you. Professionals must hold a CDFW Trapping License AND a Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) Branch 2 license to seal the access points legally.
Jurisdiction Warning: Long Beach vs. LA County
Long Beach is unique because it operates its own independent Animal Care Services department, separate from LA County. If you live within the incorporated city limits of Long Beach, your primary contact is LBACS. If you live in a neighboring unincorporated area, you must rely on LA County Animal Care & Control. Always verify your exact municipality before reporting.
State Law & Municipal Overlap
“(g)(1) Immediate Dispatch or Release. All furbearing and nongame mammals that are legal to trap must be immediately killed or released. Unless released, trapped animals shall be killed by shooting where local ordinances, landowners, and safety permit… (h) Relocation. It is unlawful to relocate any trapped furbearing or nongame mammal.”
3 Authorities Managing Long Beach Wildlife
City, County, and State authorities divide wildlife management based on the severity of the threat and its location. Use the matrix tool below to identify who to call.
Jurisdiction & Liability Matrix
Detailed Long Beach Authority Directory
Long Beach Animal Care Services
Local / CityLong Beach Animal Care Services responds to wildlife calls only if the animal is visibly sick, injured, or confined within the immediate living space of a home posing a direct safety threat. They also coordinate dead animal pickup for public roadways.
Jurisdiction Limits:- Will NOT enter attics, crawlspaces, or walls to remove healthy wildlife.
- Will NOT trap healthy coyotes roaming through neighborhoods.
LA County Dept of Public Health – Vector Management
County / RegionalThe LA County Department of Public Health handles outbreaks of disease-carrying pests. If you have a severe exterior rat infestation spreading from public alleys, overgrown neighboring lots, or standing water breeding mosquitoes, they enforce abatement.
Jurisdiction Limits:- Will inspect exterior neighborhood complaints.
- Will NOT bait or trap rats inside your private home.
CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife (South Coast Region)
StateCDFW enforces Title 14 trapping laws statewide. They are the overarching authority for large predators and manage the licensing for all commercial trappers operating in Long Beach. They step in when urban wildlife poses a severe, systemic threat that local municipalities cannot handle.
Jurisdiction Limits:- Strictly handles large predator incidents and poaching.
- Enforces illegal “catch and dump” violations by unlicensed trappers.
Long Beach Wildlife Trapping & Liability FAQ
No. California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 465.5 makes it illegal to relocate wildlife off your property. Trapped animals must be euthanized or released immediately on the exact property where they were caught to prevent the spread of disease to native populations in protected areas.
Coyotes are native and frequent the LA River trail in Long Beach. Long Beach Animal Care Services will generally only respond if a coyote is actively attacking a person or pet. For general sightings, secure your trash and remove outdoor pet food. For aggressive pack behavior, contact the CDFW South Coast Region.
No. Long Beach Animal Care Services does not perform structural evictions on private property. You must hire a licensed private trapper who holds a CDFW trapping license and a Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) Branch 2 license to safely seal the access points. If you rent, your landlord is responsible under California habitability laws; see our Long Beach tenant rights guide for details.
Need a Fully Permitted Wildlife Professional?
Do not hire unpermitted handymen. Ensure your contractor holds both an SPCB Branch 2 license and a CDFW Trapping Permit to avoid legal liability for illegal dumping.
View Verified Long Beach Exterminators & Trappers