Bethlehem, PA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household cap
- Six animals age six months+ per premises (1159.03)
- Exclusion
- Fish excluded from the six-animal count
- Permit fee
- $25 per year, renewed annually (1159.13(A))
- State exemption
- Kennel-licensed premises under Dog Law exempt
- Excess-animal outcome
- Must be removed outside city (1159.06(C))
Summary
Bethlehem limits any premises to six animals six months or older, regardless of how many owners live there, and treats exceeding that number as a public nuisance. Households wanting more must obtain an annual permit under Section 1159.04, backed by a veterinarian's health certificate, or qualify for a kennel license under the state Dog Law.
Except for species of fish, it shall be unlawful and it shall be deemed a public nuisance to keep more than six (6) animals six (6) months of age or older on any premises, regardless of the number of owners; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any premises for which a kennel license has been obtained pursuant to the Dog Law of 1965 (3 P.S. § 460-208 et seq.), as the same may from time to time be supplemented or amended, nor shall this section apply if a permit has been issued and is in effect pursuant to Article 1159.04 of this ordinance.
Full Breakdown
03 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem makes it unlawful, and a public nuisance, to keep more than six animals six months of age or older on any premises, counting all species except fish and regardless of how many separate owners are involved. 04. To get that permit, an applicant must submit a veterinarian's health certificate for every animal on the property, state the type and number of animals, the purpose of keeping them, housing plans and waste-disposal facilities, and biographical information about anyone who will care for the animals, including prior citations.
05(C): clean and sanitary quarters, no offensive odor or noise, escape-proof enclosures, and compliance with anticruelty laws. 13(A). 06(C) treats the excess as a public nuisance and the City orders the owner to remove the extra animals outside Bethlehem at the owner's own expense, with written certification of compliance required.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than six animals without a valid permit or kennel license is itself the public nuisance under Section 1159.03. Beyond the removal order in Section 1159.06(C), general Article 1159 violations draw fines starting at $100 to $250 for a first offense under Section 1159.99, doubling with each repeat violation up to $1,000 or more, and each day of noncompliance is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I legally keep in Bethlehem?
How do I get a permit to keep more than six animals?
What if the City denies my permit application?
How much does the excess-animal permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
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