Stafford Township, NJ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 60 Animals contains no list of banned dog breeds in the sections read. The only restriction by type of animal is the exotic animal rule: § 60-1 defines EXOTIC ANIMALS to include lions, tigers, wolves, wolf hybrid, feline hybrids and other like animals normally wild, and § 60-29A bars keeping any exotic animal purchased after the effective date of that section, added 7-15-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-10. Everything else about dangerous dogs runs through behavior and the state process.

Section 60-20, added 12-20-1994, directs the Animal Control Officer to act in accordance with N.J.S.A. 4:19-19 et seq. when the officer has reasonable cause to believe that a dog may be declared vicious or potentially dangerous as prescribed by that statute. The Township hands the declaration process to the statute rather than restating its tests.

Section 60-4C adds a $500 fee for a person applying for a license for a potentially dangerous dog, on top of the fees in § 60-4A. The ordinary license fee is $12 for each cat or dog, reduced to $9 for a one-year license when a veterinarian certifies the dog is spayed or neutered.

Section 60-12A(4) and (8) authorize impounding any dog with a dangerous or vicious propensity. Item (8) covers an animal that is unmuzzled, uncontrolled by proper restraining or running at large: the Animal Control Officer is authorized to seize it, and if it cannot be seized with safety, it can be killed.

The bite process is in § 60-25. The Animal Control Officer, as agent of the Township, investigates every animal bite that a hospital, physician or veterinarian has determined occurred, and works with the Health Officer on quarantine periods and suspected rabies specimens. If an animal is involved in three incidents within a twelve-month period with bites reported by a hospital physician or veterinarian, the officer reports to the Municipal Court Judge and the owner in writing, and a hearing before a Municipal Judge decides whether the animal has a propensity to cause harm to people or other domestic animals. The owner is notified in writing of the result. Subsection C then bars the owner of an animal so determined from permitting it off the premises unless it is muzzled or crated and on a leash no longer than six feet.