Ridgewood prohibits feeding unconfined wildlife and restricts bird feeders on private property, requiring elevation, seed catchers, and a maximum of three feeders per lot.
In April 2025 Ridgewood became the first New Jersey municipality to extend its wildlife feeding ban onto private property. The ordinance prohibits intentional and incidental feeding of birds, deer, wildfowl, raccoons, and other unconfined wildlife not kept as domestic pets. Bird feeders are not banned outright but must be installed at least six feet above the ground, equipped with seed-catching devices to limit spillage, and limited to three feeders per property. Ground feeding is entirely prohibited because it draws bears, deer, rodents, and disease-carrying birds into residential areas.
Violations carry fines starting at $25 with a maximum of $1,000 per offense. Continued non-compliance after warning can escalate penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood requires private swimming pools to be enclosed by code-compliant barriers under Chapter 251, with location restrictions setting pools at least ten ...
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood requires zoning permits for any retaining wall over two feet tall, with engineered drawings, soil reports, and grading plans signed by a licensed N...
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood requires that the finished, decorative side of any fence face neighboring properties or the street, with structural posts and rails facing inward, ...
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood requires a zoning permit before constructing, replacing, or altering any fence or freestanding wall on residential property, with applications revi...
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood limits residential fences to four feet in height in most yards, with taller heights permitted only in specific situations such as rear yards abutti...
Ridgewood, NJ
Consumer fireworks in Ridgewood are governed primarily by New Jersey state law, not a local fireworks chapter. Aerial and explosive fireworks remain illegal ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bergen County.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle wildlife feeding.
See how Ridgewood's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
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