Irvington, NJ Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Adopted 10-11-2017 by Ord. No. MC 3628 as Chapter 167, Article V, the TNR Program lets residents register as caretakers of feral cat colonies rather than face abandonment or nuisance charges for feeding strays. Section 167-34 makes it the caretaker's job to make reasonable efforts to trap every cat in a registered colony and have all trapped cats neutered or spayed, vaccinated against rabies and ear-tipped, plus to keep vaccination and neuter/spay records and turn copies over to the Township on request. Caretakers must also feed only during daylight hours, leave food out no more than one hour per feeding and twice a day, and site feeding where it will not create a nuisance for tenants or neighbors.

Section 167-35 backs the spay/neuter mandate with an enforcement track: feeding a feral cat that is not yet spayed/neutered, ear-tipped and vaccinated is unlawful unless the feeder is actively trying to trap that cat for sterilization; an Animal Control Officer first issues a warning notice giving the individual 15 days to contact the officer and get the cat into compliance, and failing to make that contact and cooperate carries a maximum fine of $100 per cat, per offense. Section 167-36 requires a caretaker to begin abating any nuisance caused by a colony cat within 48 hours of Township notice and resolve it within 30 days.

Section 167-38 lets the Township or Animal Control Officer seize an entire registered colony if the caretaker regularly fails to meet the article's requirements and does not correct the failures within 30 days of written notice. The program is administered through the Irvington Health Department working with Animal Control Officers, and trapping cats outside the TNR framework is separately barred by Section 167-39 except for a caretaker's own lost cat.