Hamilton, NJ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-specific ban
- None in the code
- Dangerous-dog basis
- Court declaration under N.J.S.A. 4:19-23
- Potentially dangerous dog license fee
- $700 per year
- Attack-trained dogs
- Banned outright, § 108-20
- Vicious dog disposition
- May be seized or killed if unsafe to seize
Summary
Hamilton Township has no breed-specific ban; instead it regulates individually declared dangerous dogs. A dog a court declares "potentially dangerous" under state criteria must be licensed under a special $700 annual license and its owner must follow every court-ordered condition, per § 108-22.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG Any dog declared potentially dangerous pursuant to the criteria set forth in N.J.S.A. 4:19-23, as same may be amended. ...
§ 108-22. Potentially dangerous dogs. In addition to the obligations of licensing as set forth in § 108-16, in the event a Court of competent jurisdiction has declared that a dog is a potentially dangerous dog, the owner of said animal shall be responsible for complying with all requirements and conditions imposed by the Court, including those set forth in N.J.S.A. 4:19-24, as same may be amended.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4984352; v35 updated 2026-06-16; through 06-16-2026).
Full Breakdown
Hamilton's code does not target any breed by name. A. A. 4:19-22," both individualized, court-driven designations rather than a breed list. A. 4:19-24," on top of the Township's own licensing duties in § 108-16. A. 4:19-31, a steep premium over an ordinary dog license. A(5) authorizes the Township to impound a dog "determined to be a vicious dog," adding that police may kill it on the spot if it cannot be safely seized. Dog-bite cases trigger a mandatory process under § 108-21: veterinary exam within 12 hours, 10-day quarantine, and a written health report to the Division of Health.
Violations & Fines
Violating a court-imposed condition on a potentially dangerous dog under § 108-22, or keeping an attack-trained dog under § 108-20, is punished under Chapter 1, § 1-2, Violations; penalties, per § 108-15, and a vicious dog may also be seized and, if it cannot be seized safely, killed under § 108-23.A(5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hamilton Township ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
How much does it cost to license a dog declared potentially dangerous in Hamilton Township?
What happens after a Hamilton Township court declares a dog potentially dangerous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hamilton
How Hamilton compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Hamilton to another location·View the New Jersey animal ordinances overview
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