Cherry Hill, NJ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-specific ban
- None; determination is individual
- Declaring authority
- Cherry Hill Municipal Court
- Annual dangerous-dog fee
- $700.00, § 8-2.13l
- Compliance inspections
- Monthly, § 8-2.13m
- Underlying framework
- N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq.
Summary
Cherry Hill Township Code § 8-2.13 has no breed-specific dog ban; instead it lets the Municipal Court declare an individual dog 'vicious' or 'potentially dangerous' under N.J.S.A. 4:19-22 and 4:19-23, and the Township charges a $700.00 annual license fee plus monthly compliance inspections for any dog so declared.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG: ... Shall mean any dog or dog hybrid declared potentially dangerous by a Municipal Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-23. VICIOUS DOG: Shall mean any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious by a Municipal Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-22. ... Fees for License. The annual fee to be paid for a potentially dangerous dog license and each renewal thereof shall be seven hundred ($700.00) dollars. ... Inspection. The Animal Control Officer shall inspect the enclosure and the owner's property at least monthly to determine continuing compliance with N.J.S.A. 4:19-24 and paragraph e of this subsection.
Full Breakdown
Cherry Hill does not ban any breed by name. A. A. 4:19-22, so a declaration always follows a specific incident, never a dog's breed alone. A. 2C:11-1, and the dog stays impounded until the Municipal Court makes a final determination. A. 13m. A. 4:19-29, and the Municipal Court can order destruction of a seized dog carried out in an expeditious and humane manner.
Violations & Fines
Violations of a potentially-dangerous-dog compliance order are penalized under N.J.S.A. 4:19-29, enforced by the Cherry Hill Municipal Court, which has jurisdiction under § 8-2.13j(2) and may order destruction of a seized dog. Separately, the Animal Control Officer may seize any potentially dangerous dog whose owner fails to comply with the state act or a court order, per § 8-2.13j(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cherry Hill ban pit bulls or other breeds?
What does it cost to license a dog declared potentially dangerous in Cherry Hill?
Who decides if a dog is vicious in Cherry Hill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherry Hill
How Cherry Hill compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Cherry Hill to another location·View the New Jersey animal ordinances overview
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