Jersey City prohibits all livestock including horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs under Chapter 90. Only household pets are permitted in this dense urban jurisdiction.
Under Chapter 90 (Animals) of the Jersey City Code of Ordinances, the keeping of horses, cattle, cows, goats, sheep, pigs (including pot-bellied pigs except where specifically permitted), llamas, alpacas, and other farm livestock is prohibited in all zones of Jersey City. The city is classified entirely within urban residential, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial districts and does not include agricultural zoning. Public-health rationale includes disease vectors, manure disposal, odor, insect breeding, and incompatibility with adjacent high-density housing. Stables, barns, and livestock enclosures are not permitted accessory uses. Equine boarding is only available at regional facilities outside the city. Service animals recognized under the ADA (such as trained miniature horses in limited contexts) are treated under federal accommodation rules separately from general livestock prohibitions. Complaints about illegal livestock keeping should be directed to Jersey City Animal Control.
Livestock kept in violation of Chapter 90 can be impounded and owners fined starting around $100 per offense, with additional per-day penalties. Ongoing nuisance can lead to municipal court action.
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