Linden, NJ Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- General wildlife feeding
- prohibited citywide
- Song bird exception
- permitted if compliant
- Minimum feeder height
- 4 feet above ground
- Feeder design
- enclosed, wildlife-deterring
- Enforcing agencies
- Health Dept., Police, Animal Control
Summary
Linden bans feeding wildlife and stray animals citywide but carves out an exception for song birds: feeders must sit at least four feet off the ground, stay enclosed, and not create droppings or a nuisance for neighbors, under Section 5-5.
No person shall feed any wildlife or domestic stray animals on any property, public or private within the City of Linden. This prohibition shall not apply to the feeding of song birds provided feeding of song birds is in compliance with subsection 5-5.4. ... Feeding of songbirds shall be permitted outdoors at such times and such manner that: ... ... d. Bird feeders are enclosed and placed at least four (4) feet above the ground in a wildlife deterring manner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4586096; v16 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
2 defines "wildlife" broadly to include pigeons, waterfowl, feral cats, raccoons, skunks and groundhogs. 4. That provision permits outdoor song bird feeding only when it does not create an unreasonable disturbance affecting surrounding property owners, does not let droppings accumulate on the property or neighboring properties, does not attract rodents or other wild animals, and uses bird feeders that are enclosed and placed at least four feet above the ground in a wildlife-deterring manner. 1 states the underlying purpose is to protect public health, safety and welfare from unconfined wildlife and strays, and an editor's note cross-references a related wildlife-feeding provision at Section 19-2. 1.
Violations & Fines
Section 5-5.5 lets the Health Department, Police Department or an Animal Control Officer order feeding stopped immediately upon a violation. Section 5-5.6 subjects the violator to the penalty in Section 1-5.1: a fine of $100 to $2,000, up to 90 days in jail, or up to 90 days of community service, at the Municipal Judge's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed birds in my Linden yard?
Why does Linden ban feeding wildlife generally?
What happens if I violate Linden's bird-feeding conditions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linden
Compare Linden to another location·View the New Jersey animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Union County handle bird protection.