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

" The prohibition is not limited to unlicensed dogs; even a properly registered dog violates the section if it is off its owner's property and unrestrained. " Once impounded, a shelter or pound must generally hold the dog at least seven days before adoption or euthanasia, and an owner reclaiming it must show proof of ownership (license, registration, rabies certificate, or veterinary records) and pay a $40 reclamation fee under § 203-14F, plus boarding costs of up to $4 per day. The at-large ban sits in Article I of Chapter 203 alongside the City's dog-licensing scheme (§§ 203-1 through 203-9), which requires annual license renewal by January 31 and imposes a $10 late fee after March 1, underscoring that a current license does not excuse letting a dog roam.

Owners should also note the separate nuisance provisions in § 203-11, which bar dogs from defecating on public property or private property without permission, since an at-large dog frequently triggers both sections at once.