Long Branch's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Long Branch, New Jersey, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Breed Restrictions

Long Branch does not ban dog breeds; it declares individual dogs vicious or potentially dangerous under state standards and then imposes local consequences, from same-day seizure to a $150 annual license, a tattooed ID number and a locked, six-foot enclosure.

Key details: Vicious dog standard: Twice attacked/bit a person, or killed an animal. Potentially dangerous dog statute: N.J.S.A. 4:19-23. Compliance deadline: 60 days from court order. Special license fee: $150 annually. Enclosure fence height: At least 6 feet.

Chapter 109 punishes most Article I violations under Chapter 1's general penalty, up to a $2,000 fine, 90 days imprisonment or 90 days of community service, per § 109-11. A vicious dog seized under § 109-6(A)(5) can be killed if it cannot be safely captured, and an owner who fails to meet the potentially-dangerous-dog conditions risks the dog remaining impounded indefinitely and separate prosecution for noncompliance with the Municipal Court's order.

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

Dog Leash Laws

Long Branch bars dogs from running at large anywhere in the city and requires any dog off its owner's property to be on a leash no more than eight feet long, held by someone at least 12 years old. The Animal Control Officer enforces the rule under City Code Chapter 109.

Key details: Leash length limit: Not more than 8 feet. Minimum handler age: 12 years old. Running at large: Prohibited citywide, no exception. Waste cleanup: Required immediately, sanitary means. Governing section: City Code § 109-7.

Violating the running-at-large or leashing rules is punishable under Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, the city's general penalty section (separate from the flat $100 penalty reserved for § 109-2 licensing violations). An unleashed or at-large dog can also be seized and impounded; the owner must pay an impoundment fee and administrative costs set by the City Council before reclaiming the animal, and an unclaimed dog is subject to destruction after the seven-day notice period.

Chickens & Livestock

Long Branch caps the breeding, keeping and raising of horses, ponies and mules at one animal per acre citywide, and the City Health Department can license temporary livestock keeping only for a commercial purpose such as a circus, fair or exhibition. The code has no separate chicken or poultry provision.

Key details: Density limit: 1 horse/pony/mule per acre. Waste removal deadline: Within 24 hours. Temporary commercial license: Circus, fair, exhibition. Licensing authority: City Health Department. Chickens/poultry: Not addressed in this article.

Under § 109-17, keeping more than one covered animal per acre is treated as a separate violation for each animal over the limit, meaning a property with three horses on a half-acre lot could face three counted violations rather than one. Penalties are set under Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, the city's general penalty schedule, as amended by Ordinance No. 36-98 in 1998.

Compared to other cities, Long Branch takes a harder line on chickens & livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Cat Rules

Long Branch requires every cat of licensing age, seven months old, to be licensed if a resident owns, keeps or harbors it as of January 1, and the code makes anyone who regularly feeds a stray cat that cat's legal owner, license obligation included.

Key details: Licensing age: 7 months, or full permanent teeth. License trigger date: Owned/kept in city as of Jan. 1. New-resident grace period: 10 days after bringing cat into city. Out-of-state license grace: 90 days before local license required. Feral cat feeder status: Counted as the cat's legal owner.

Failing to license a cat as required by § 109-2 carries a penalty of not more than $100 per offense under City of Long Branch Code § 109-11. Other violations of the dogs-and-cats article default to Chapter 1's general penalty, up to a $2,000 fine, 90 days imprisonment or 90 days of community service.

The Bottom Line

Long Branch is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Long Branch, 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 Long Branch's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.