How Bergenfield Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Bergenfield maintains 67 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bergenfield falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Exotic Pets

Bergenfield prohibits keeping native New Jersey wildlife and imposes special caging and fencing requirements on permitted exotic pets.

Key details: Native Wildlife: Prohibited. Bird Rehab: Prohibited in borough. Cage Standard: Locking gate plus mesh. NJDEP Permit: Required for exotics.

Keeping native NJ wildlife such as foxes or bobcats, housing exotic animals without secondary mesh and locking gates, or rehabilitating birds in Bergenfield.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bergenfield actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Chickens & Livestock

Bergenfield prohibits keeping chickens, roosters, hoofed animals, pigs, and other farm animals on any premises within the borough.

Key details: Chickens: Prohibited borough-wide. Roosters: Prohibited. Pigs: Prohibited even as pets. Hoofed Animals: Prohibited.

Keeping backyard chickens, roosters, ducks, goats, sheep, pigs, or other farm animals at any Bergenfield home, including pets like pot-bellied pigs.

Wildlife Feeding

Bergenfield prohibits feeding any domestic or wild animal on any property when the feeding attracts rats, mice, flies, or other vermin.

Key details: Trigger: Attracts rats, mice, or flies. Animals Covered: Domestic and wild. Locations: Any borough property. Enforced By: Animal Control and Health.

Leaving food out for stray cats, deer, or wildlife in a way that attracts rats or flies, or running poorly maintained bird feeders that draw vermin.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Bergenfield gives residents more flexibility on wildlife feeding.

Dog Leash Laws

Bergenfield requires dogs in public or on unfenced private property to be controlled by a person over 12 with a leash no longer than six feet.

Key details: Max Leash Length: 6 feet. Handler Age: Over 12 years old. Off-Leash Area: Inside dog park only. Hours at Dog Park: Dawn to dusk.

Walking a dog off-leash, using a leash longer than six feet, or letting a child under 13 walk the dog alone in Bergenfield public areas.

Bergenfield is more permissive than most cities when it comes to dog leash laws. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Bergenfield gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 2 of the 4 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Bergenfield's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.