Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) caps the total combined number of dogs and cats over three months of age at six (6) per residential lot of less than one acre. Each dog three months or older must be licensed annually under the Pennsylvania Dog Law through the Lackawanna County Treasurer, and any person breeding, boarding, or selling 26 or more dogs in a calendar year must hold a separate state kennel license under 3 P.S. Section 459-206. Conditions sufficient to constitute neglect or hoarding escalate to criminal charges under 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532-5534.
Scranton has codified a numerical pet cap in Chapter 169 of the Code of Ordinances at https://ecode360.com/11604508: on a residential lot of less than one acre, the total combined number of dogs and cats over three months of age is limited to six. The cap is enforced by Scranton Police and the Code Enforcement Division, and is read together with Chapter 169's general nuisance and health-hazard provisions covering odor, noise, and sanitation. Each individual dog three months or older must be licensed annually under the Pennsylvania Dog Law (3 P.S. Section 459-201) through the Lackawanna County Treasurer (https://www.lackawannacounty.org/government/elected_officials/treasurer/dog_license.php); current PA annual license fees are approximately $8.70 spayed/neutered and $10.70 intact, with a lifetime option around $51.70 for microchipped dogs. Households operating commercial kennels (boarding, breeding, or selling 26 or more dogs in a calendar year) face separate state-level kennel licensing under 3 P.S. Section 459-206, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/animals/pets/kennels.html. When conditions cross the line into neglect or animal cruelty, humane officers can pursue charges under 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532-5534 (neglect, cruelty, and aggravated cruelty), with seizure and forfeiture remedies. Owners on lots one acre or larger may exceed the six-pet cap subject to zoning and nuisance review — confirm with Scranton Code Enforcement before exceeding the cap.
Exceeding the six-pet residential cap in Chapter 169 is a summary offense enforced by Scranton Police and Code Enforcement, with fines historically up to $100 per violation and continuing-violation penalties per day. Failure to license individual dogs annually under 3 P.S. Section 459-201 is a separate violation enforced by the PA Dog Law Enforcement Bureau with fines up to $300 per dog. Commercial breeding or boarding without a kennel license under 3 P.S. Section 459-206 carries additional state penalties. Conditions amounting to hoarding can escalate to criminal charges under 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532-5534.
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