How Bethlehem Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Bethlehem maintains 100 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bethlehem falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Chickens & Livestock

Bethlehem's Codified Ordinances regulate animals primarily in Article 1159 (Animals) of the Business Regulation and Taxation Code. Section 1159.07 expressly prohibits keeping cattle, sheep, swine, and goats within City limits, and Sections 1159.09-1159.10 impose coop and distance requirements on fowl that are otherwise tolerated. Section 1159.04 requires a permit for any household keeping more than six animals. Pennsylvania has not preempted municipal livestock-keeping rules — Article 1159 controls inside the City of Bethlehem.

Key details: Cattle/Sheep/Swine/Goats: Prohibited — Section 1159.07. Coop Distance: Required — Sections 1159.09-1159.10. Six-Animal Permit: Required — Section 1159.04. Nuisance Hook: Section 1159.06. Animal Control Officer: Section 1159.05.

Keeping cattle, sheep, swine, or goats inside Bethlehem city limits is a direct violation of Section 1159.07 and enforceable as a summary offense with fines and abatement orders requiring removal of the animals. Coop and distance violations under Sections 1159.09-1159.10, six-animal permit violations under Section 1159.04, and general animal nuisance violations under Section 1159.06 are similarly summary offenses with daily continuing-violation penalties. Repeat or unabated violations are referred to the Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

This is one of the stricter rules in Bethlehem's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Breed Restrictions

Bethlehem does not have a breed-specific ordinance and cannot enact one. Pennsylvania's Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-507-A(c) preempts local breed bans: a local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog. Bethlehem regulates dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis through Article 709 and Article 1159 (Animals), aligned with the state dangerous-dog statute at 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A enforced through the Courts of Common Pleas of Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Key details: Local BSL: None — preempted by state law. Preemption Statute: 3 P.S. Section 459-507-A(c). Allowed Local Rule: Behavior-based only (Art. 709/1159). State Dangerous Dog Act: 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A. Insurance Requirement: $50,000 liability (state law).

Because breed-specific local ordinances are state-preempted, no Bethlehem citation can be issued solely based on a dog's breed. Behavior-based dangerous-dog citations under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A are summary offenses for an initial unprovoked attack and grade up to misdemeanors and felonies for severe attacks; cases are heard in the Courts of Common Pleas of Lehigh or Northampton County depending on the residence. Failing to comply with dangerous-dog registration, enclosure, and insurance requirements carries additional state penalties plus potential seizure of the animal by Pennsylvania Dog Wardens.

Bethlehem is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Beekeeping

Bethlehem's Codified Ordinances Article 1159 (Animals) does not contain an express urban-beekeeping framework, and bees are not separately listed among the animals counted toward the six-animal permit threshold of Section 1159.04. Hives sit under the general nuisance hook of Section 1159.06 and the coop/distance framework of Sections 1159.09-1159.10. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Bee Law at 3 Pa.C.S. Section 2101 et seq. requires every beekeeper to register all apiaries with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry.

Key details: Bethlehem Urban Beekeeping: Not expressly authorized or banned. Likely Local Hook: Section 1159.06 nuisance + zoning. State Registration: Required — PA Bee Law 3 Pa.C.S. Section 2102. State Authority: PA Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. Registration Fee: About $10 per two years.

Keeping bees in Bethlehem where a hive triggers complaints sufficient to qualify as a public nuisance under Section 1159.06 is enforceable as a summary offense with abatement orders requiring hive removal or relocation. Failing to register an apiary with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture violates the Bee Law (3 Pa.C.S. Section 2102) and is enforced separately by the PDA with civil penalties. Bees adjudicated a public nuisance based on swarms or repeated stinging incidents can be ordered removed regardless of registration status.

Exotic Pets

Bethlehem regulates exotic animals through a dedicated chapter — Article 1160 (Wild and Exotic Animals) — which provides the local ban-and-permit framework. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code at 34 Pa.C.S. Section 2961 et seq. and the Pennsylvania Game Commission's permit regulations at 58 Pa. Code Chapter 147 separately require an Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit for big cats, primates, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles native to non-PA jurisdictions. The dual local/state framework rarely supports residential exotic ownership in the City.

Key details: Local Chapter: Article 1160 (Wild and Exotic Animals). State Permit: PA Game Commission (58 Pa. Code Ch. 147). State Statute: 34 Pa.C.S. Section 2961 et seq.. Caging Standards: PGC inspection required. Apprenticeship: 2 years for large carnivores.

Keeping a wild or exotic animal in Bethlehem in violation of Article 1160 is a summary offense with fines plus abatement orders requiring removal of the animal. Possessing exotic wildlife under 34 Pa.C.S. Section 2961 without a Game Commission permit is a separate summary or misdemeanor offense with fines up to $1,500 per animal and seizure by Wildlife Conservation Officers. Animals seized for public-safety reasons are placed with PGC-licensed wildlife sanctuaries at the owner's expense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Bethlehem's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Animal Hoarding

Bethlehem addresses animal hoarding through two overlapping frameworks: (1) Article 1159 of the Codified Ordinances, which uses the six-animal permit threshold in Section 1159.04 and the nuisance hook in Section 1159.06 to control over-capacity homes; and (2) the Pennsylvania cruelty statutes at 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532 (neglect), 5533 (cruelty), and 5534 (aggravated cruelty), as enacted by Libre's Law in 2017. The Lehigh Valley Humane Society humane officers enforce the criminal statutes alongside the City Animal Control Officer.

Key details: Six-Animal Threshold: Bethlehem Section 1159.04. Local Nuisance Hook: Section 1159.06. State Neglect: 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5532 (Libre's Law). State Cruelty: 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533 (M2 w/ injury). Aggravated Cruelty: 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5534 (F3).

Bethlehem Article 1159 nuisance and permit violations are summary offenses with fines and abatement orders plus daily continuing-violation penalties. State criminal penalties under the Libre's Law framework: 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5532 (neglect) summary or M3 (up to one year, $2,500); 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533 (cruelty) M2 (up to two years, $5,000); 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5534 (aggravated cruelty) F3 (up to seven years, $15,000). Convicted defendants are typically also barred from owning animals and ordered to pay restitution for veterinary care.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bethlehem actively enforces its animal hoarding requirements.

Wildlife Feeding

Bethlehem's local wildlife-feeding enforcement runs through Article 1159 nuisance provisions (Section 1159.06) of the Codified Ordinances and property-maintenance rules against accumulations attracting vermin. Statewide rules add specific bans: 58 Pa. Code Section 137.33 prohibits feeding bears and elk anywhere in Pennsylvania, and 58 Pa. Code Section 137.34 prohibits feeding wild deer within designated Disease Management Areas. Whether Northampton or Lehigh County sits inside a current CWD DMA should be verified against the live PGC map before placing deer feed.

Key details: Local Hook: Bethlehem Section 1159.06 nuisance. Bear/Elk Feeding: Prohibited statewide (58 Pa. Code Section 137.33). Deer Feeding: Prohibited only in DMAs (Section 137.34). DMA Status: Verify current PGC CWD map. Authorizing Statute: 34 Pa.C.S. Section 103.

Article 1159 nuisance citations in Bethlehem are summary offenses with daily continuing-violation penalties and abatement orders. State bear/elk feeding violations under 58 Pa. Code Section 137.33 are enforced by PGC with fines starting at $200 plus removal of feed and a written notice prohibiting future feeding. If Lehigh or Northampton County is added to a CWD DMA, deer-feeding violations under Section 137.34 become similar summary offenses with PGC fines. Feeding that draws bears into populated Bethlehem neighborhoods can also trigger a written notice from the Commission prohibiting further activity at that location.

Pet Limits

Bethlehem caps household animals at six without a permit: Section 1159.04 of Article 1159 (Animals) requires application for a permit for any household keeping more than six animals. The state Dog Law continues to require each dog three months or older to be licensed annually through the county treasurer (Lehigh or Northampton), and any person breeding, boarding, or selling dogs commercially 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.

Key details: Household Cap: Six animals — permit required above. Permit Statute: Section 1159.04. Local Nuisance Hook: Section 1159.06. State Dog License: Each dog 3 months+ annually. Kennel License: Required for 26+ dogs/yr (3 P.S. Section 459-206).

Keeping more than six animals in a Bethlehem household without the Section 1159.04 permit is a summary offense with abatement orders requiring removal of excess animals. Section 1159.06 nuisance citations carry their own summary penalties with daily continuing-violation fines. 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 per day. 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.

Dog Leash Laws

Bethlehem regulates dogs through Article 709 (Dogs) of the General Offenses Code and Section 1159.12 of Article 1159, which require dogs to be under restraint off the owner's property and addresses disturbance-of-the-peace barking. State-level licensing is administered by the county treasurer in each of Lehigh and Northampton Counties under the Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-101 et seq., which requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually. Tethering of unattended dogs is governed by the state floor at 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533 (Libre's Law).

Key details: Local Restraint: Article 709 (Dogs) + Section 1159.12. Tethering Floor: PA Libre's Law 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533. State Dog License: Required — Lehigh or Northampton Treasurer. License Fees (2025): $8.50 spay/neuter; $10.50 intact. Animal Control Officer: Section 1159.05 (City).

Off-leash, at-large, and disturbance-of-the-peace dog violations under Article 709 are summary offenses enforced by the Bethlehem Police and Animal Control Officer with fines plus impoundment, sheltering, and reclaim fees if the dog is picked up. Failure to license a dog violates 3 P.S. Section 459-201 with a separate penalty of up to $300 per day under the Pennsylvania Dog Law. Repeat off-leash incidents resulting in bites can trigger dangerous-dog proceedings under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A in the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh or Northampton County depending on the dog's residence.

The Bottom Line

Bethlehem is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Bethlehem, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Bethlehem's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.