East Orange, NJ Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 132-3 bars any household pet, not just dogs, from running at large 'in any street or public place' and caps the number of pets a household may 'keep, maintain or harbor' at six dogs or cats of licensing age (combined) or ten birds, framing anything above that as a nuisance or public health hazard. Section 132-13 focuses specifically on dogs off their owner's property: a dog may not run at large on a public street, public area, public building, or another person's premises unless it is on a leash no longer than six feet, is muzzled to prevent biting, or the premises owner expressly consents to the dog being loose.

A stricter rule applies to breeds 'commonly and frequently used for security purposes' as defined in § 132-5, such as pit bulls and rottweilers: those dogs must be muzzled and restrained on a tether approved by the Animal Control Officer with a minimum 300-pound tensile strength, limiting movement to within three feet of the handler (§ 132-13D). Separately, § 132-4.1 bars dogs, leashed or not, from City parks and playgrounds except when being walked directly to or from a designated dog run. Enforcement falls to the Animal Control Officer and the East Orange Police Department under § 132-7.