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

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Maximum leash length: 8 feet
Covered areas: Streets, parks, public buildings, public places
Pound fee if seized: $8.00 plus $4.00/day
Hold period before disposal: 7 days after notice
Enforcing official: City dog warden

Summary

Elizabeth bans letting a dog run loose on public streets, in parks, public buildings or any other public place. Section 6.04.270 requires every dog off its owner's property to be controlled by a leash no longer than eight feet.

No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public streets or in any public park or in any public building or in any other public place within the city, unless such dog is controlled by an adequate leash not more than eight feet long.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).

Full Breakdown

270, titled "Running at large prohibited, leash required," bars any person owning, keeping or harboring a dog from suffering or permitting it to run at large on public streets, in any public park, in any public building, or in any other public place in the city, unless the dog is controlled by an adequate leash of no more than eight feet. 040). 210. 220. 420 separately regulates tethering, requiring a non-choke collar and banning chains for any tethering device, which is distinct from the on-leash requirement for walking a dog in public.

Violations & Fines

Letting a dog run at large without an eight-foot leash violates Section 6.04.270 and exposes the owner to seizure of the dog by the dog warden under Section 6.04.200, plus an $8.00 pound fee and $4.00 per-day maintenance charge under Section 6.04.220 if the dog is impounded, on top of the general Chapter 1.12 penalty of $100.00 to $2,000.00 for the underlying violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a dog leash be in Elizabeth, NJ?

No more than eight feet. Section 6.04.270 requires any dog off its owner's property in a public street, park, public building or other public place to be controlled by an adequate leash of eight feet or less; letting it run loose without one violates the section.

What happens if the dog warden picks up a loose dog in Elizabeth?

If the dog wears a current registration tag, Section 6.04.210 requires the dog warden to notify the owner in writing, and the dog must be held at least seven days before disposal. Section 6.04.220 then charges an $8.00 pound fee plus $4.00 per day in maintenance until it is reclaimed.

Is tethering a dog outside different from the leash law?

Yes. Section 6.04.270 governs walking a dog off the owner's property in public. Section 6.04.420 separately covers tethering a dog at home, requiring a non-choke collar that lets the dog move freely and banning chains entirely for any tethering device.

Sources & Official References

[1]Elizabeth, NJ Code of Ordinances - Municode

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