Hackensack, NJ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Article II of Chapter 52, adopted in 1934 and amended repeatedly since, governs dog licensing and regulation citywide. Section 52-15F states flatly that no person shall permit any vicious or dangerous dog to be brought into or remain within the City of Hackensack; the code does not define specific breeds, so the standard turns on the individual dog's behavior rather than its breed. Section 52-16A authorizes the Health Officer to impound licensed dogs running at large, all unlicensed dogs, and any dog suspected of having rabies, and separately lists vicious and dangerous dogs as impoundable, adding that such dogs may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the Health Officer.

The Health Officer also has authority under Section 52-16D to destroy any dog suspected of having rabies and to examine its head. Enforcement of Article II rests with the Police Department under Section 52-14. A dog impounded on any ground can be reclaimed by its owner on proof of ownership and payment of a $4-per-day impounding charge under Section 52-16B, but any dog not reclaimed within seven days of impounding is destroyed or otherwise disposed of. For multi-unit buildings with six or more dwelling units, Section 52-15H, added in 2024, makes the owner, managing agent, or governing board responsible for confirming every resident's dog is licensed and for keeping a registry of each dog's name, address, and breed available to police, animal control, or the Health Department within one business day of a request.