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Ridgewood, NJ Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Kennel threshold
5 or more animals per premises (§ 105-20)
License required at threshold
Division of Health kennel license (§ 105-21)
License term
Expires every June 30, non-transferable
Zoning tie-in
Must comply with Ch. 190 land use (§ 105-26 note)
Penalty
Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail (§ 105-33)

Summary

Village of Ridgewood Code § 105-20 deems the keeping of five or more animals on one premises a kennel, and § 105-21 then requires a Division of Health license to operate as a kennel, pet shop or animal hospital, effectively capping an ordinary household at four pets.

The keeping of five animals or more per premises shall be deemed a kennel. ... No person shall operate a kennel, pet shop or an animal hospital without having first obtained a license therefor from the Division of Health.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4854397; v35 updated 2026-04-22; through 04-22-2026).

Full Breakdown

Ridgewood does not cap dogs or cats by name in a single household-pets section; instead, Chapter 105's Article IV reaches the same result through its kennel definition. ' Practically, that means a Ridgewood household can keep up to four dogs, cats or other animals without triggering any commercial licensing, but a fifth animal converts the property into a kennel subject to the full Article IV regime: an application filed at the Division of Health's office with the fee due in advance (§ 105-22, § 105-23), an investigation of the applicant and premises before any license issues (§ 105-25), and a license that is valid only through the fiscal year, expiring every June 30 and non-transferable (§ 105-28).

The Division can also refuse the license outright, and § 105-26's Editor's Note ties issuance to compliance with Chapter 190's zoning code, so a fifth pet is not simply a paperwork step; it can require the property to meet land-use standards a normal residential lot was never built to satisfy.

Violations & Fines

Operating an unlicensed kennel once a fifth animal is on the premises violates § 105-21 and is punished under Article IV's own penalty, § 105-33: up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in the county jail if unpaid, and additional jail time for a second conviction within six months, at the Municipal Judge's discretion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Ridgewood without a permit?
Up to four. Section 105-20 defines 'the keeping of five animals or more per premises' as a kennel, so a fifth dog, cat or other animal on one property triggers the licensing requirements of Article IV rather than remaining an ordinary household pet arrangement.
Do I need a business to trigger the kennel rule?
No. Section 105-20's five-animal threshold applies to 'per premises' regardless of whether any animals are bred, boarded or sold; a household simply keeping five pets meets the kennel definition and needs the license required by § 105-21.
What does a kennel license require beyond a fee?
Section 105-25 lets the Division of Health investigate the applicant and premises before granting a license, and the Editor's Note to § 105-26 ties issuance to compliance with Chapter 190's zoning code, so the property's location and setup must also satisfy land-use standards.
What happens if I keep five or more pets without a kennel license?
It violates § 105-21 and is punished under § 105-33's Article IV penalty: up to $500 in fines, up to 90 days in the county jail if unpaid, with more jail exposure for a second conviction within six months.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ridgewood

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All Ridgewood rules

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