Feeding pigeons is now banned across the entire territory of the Republic. The Secretary of State for Territory, Environment and Agriculture, Matteo Ciacci, has signed the ordinance introducing the ban starting 17 August 2026, valid until 16 August 2027.
The measure expressly prohibits scattering grain, feed, scraps or food leftovers on public or private land for free-roaming pigeons.
The decision follows numerous reports from various areas of Mount Titano concerning the disruption caused by the growing presence of the birds — a phenomenon that, according to the Secretariat of State, is no longer confined to the historic centre.
“The growing presence of birds, historically concentrated in the historic centre of the City of San Marino but now widespread in other towns and in the Castelli [administrative districts],” the statement reads, “is causing problems linked in particular to the accumulation of guano on balconies, roofs, pavements and public spaces.”
The Secretariat also points to potential health and hygiene risks, citing “the recent case of a mite infestation that required the closure and immediate disinfestation of a public building.”
The ordinance implements a resolution adopted on 5 August by the Observatory for Wildlife and Related Habitats, which examined the rise in the pigeon population and the extent to which the availability of food in urban areas contributes to it. According to the note, the presence of food sources helps draw birds in from surrounding areas, limiting their natural dispersal into the countryside.
The measure goes beyond the feeding ban. Relevant offices and state-owned enterprises will be asked to work together to identify the most problematic locations and plan interventions to seal off nesting sites in buildings and public areas.
Compliance with the ordinance will be monitored by the Civil Police, Gendarmerie, the Uniformed Unit of the Guardia di Rocca and the Ecological Surveillance Service of the U.G.R.A.A. Inspections and fines for offenders are envisaged.
“This measure is part of a series of preventive actions the Secretariat is carrying out to protect public health and the appearance of our territory,” said Matteo Ciacci.
“Over the course of the year in which the ordinance applies, we will monitor developments together with the Observatory for Wildlife to assess the effectiveness of the measures adopted and whether further action may be needed,” the Secretary of State concluded.
