Bethlehem, PA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Bethlehem's local rules layer with state criminal law. Section 1159.04 of the Codified Ordinances at https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/ordinances requires a permit application for any household keeping more than six animals, giving the City an early intervention point before conditions escalate, and Section 1159.06 provides the nuisance hook used in hoarding situations where odor, sanitation, or filth become apparent to neighbors and inspectors. The Pennsylvania cruelty statutes at 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532-5534 (https://www.animallaw.info/statute/pa-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes), as amended by Libre's Law (Act 10 of 2017, which repealed and replaced former Section 5511), provide the criminal backbone: Section 5532 (neglect) is a summary offense, escalating to a misdemeanor of the third degree if bodily injury results; Section 5533 (cruelty) is a misdemeanor of the second degree if bodily injury or imminent risk results; Section 5534 (aggravated cruelty) is a felony of the third degree if neglect or cruelty causes serious bodily injury or death. Section 5511 of the Crimes Code was repealed in 2017 and is no longer the operative statute — Sections 5532-5534 are. In the Bethlehem area the Lehigh Valley Humane Society at 640 Dixon Street, Allentown (610-797-1205, https://lehighvalleyhumanesociety.org/) provides cruelty-investigation and intake services; humane officers have authority under 22 Pa.C.S. Chapter 37 to investigate and file criminal complaints in either Lehigh or Northampton County depending on the address. Pennsylvania does not have a dedicated 'animal hoarder' statute, but Sections 5532-5534 functionally cover hoarding through the neglect and cruelty provisions.