Bloomfield, NJ Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Two sections of Chapter 134 of the Bloomfield Township Code control restraint. Section 134-3 prohibits all persons from permitting any animals belonging to them or in their possession to run at large in any of the public streets, parks or other open places in the Township. Service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and animals engaged in police, fire or other government-sanctioned activities, are exempt.

Section 134-12 supplies the dog and cat standard. It is unlawful for any dog or cat, whether licensed or not, to run at large within the Township. An animal is running at large when it is off the premises of its owner or of the person keeping or harboring it and is not on a leash, tether, chain, rope or the like whose overall length, including the hand grip, does not exceed six feet, held by its owner or another person able to control it. A license and tag do not excuse an unleashed animal.

The Animal Control Officer, who sits under the Police Department under § 134-8, has the duty under § 134-4 to impound any animal or fowl found running at large. Section 134-15 also directs impoundment of a dog or cat off the owner's premises without a current registration tag on its collar and of any female dog or cat in season off the premises. Under § 134-5, an impounded animal whose owner does not pay the fine and charges of keeping it within seven days becomes Township property, and strays held by the animal shelter have a holding period of seven business days.

Section 134-21 sets the shelter's fees: redemption of an animal at large is $60 during normal shelter business hours and $160 after hours, with $100 for a second offense in the same twelve-month period and $200 for a third. The holding fee is $20 for each of days one through seven and $40 for each day from day eight. Separately, § 134-39 bars leaving a dog tethered and unattended beyond seven hours in a twenty-four-hour period, with no more than four hours at one interval.