New Ordinance Limits Bird Feeders to 1, $50 Fine for More

If you have more than one bird feeder on your property, you could be shelling out some money to the city.

The City Council last night passed an ordinance that restricts bird feeders to one per property and violators could be fined $50 for each infraction.

The measure is a move to address the ongoing rat problem in Cranston — an issue that has plagued many city neighborhoods over the past few years.

Earlier this year, the City Council passed a resolution with similar language, but Monday's vote formalized the policy as a bona-fide ordinance, prompting Councilman Paul Archetto to commend his fellow Councilman Mike Farina for introducing it.

"This puts some teeth in the resolution we passed," Archetto said.

Archetto's ward has been particularly stricken with rat issues and he's followed along on a number of city rat patrols that began in the spring. Cranston has several employees responding to rat complaints, setting traps and working with homeowners who leave pet food outside or have conditions that promote rat populations.

It's part of an overall effort to get the upper hand in the battle against the rat population. The new bird feeder ordinance joins an ordinance that prohibits feeding any domesticated animals outside as well as storing food outside.

Residents are limited to one bird feeder per property "until the rodent infestation in Cranston is eliminated," according to the ordinance.

Having more than one "shall be considered to be creating a nuisance" and "shall be fined accordingly," according to the ordinance. The fine is $50 per instance.