Scranton's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Scranton, Pennsylvania, there are 8 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

Scranton 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. Scranton regulates dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis through Chapter 169 vicious-dog provisions, aligned with the state dangerous-dog statute at 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A enforced through the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County.

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 (Ch. 169). 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 Scranton 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 Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County. Scranton Chapter 169 vicious-dog violations historically carry fines up to $100 plus potential abatement up to and including destruction of the animal after investigation by the Superintendent of Police. Failing to comply with dangerous-dog registration, enclosure, and insurance requirements carries additional state penalties plus potential seizure by Pennsylvania Dog Wardens.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Scranton gives residents more flexibility on breed restrictions.

Chickens & Livestock

Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) prohibits horses, cows, bulls, goats, sheep, hogs, mules, oxen and similar livestock from running at large in the City, and authorizes the Director of the Office of Public Health to order removal of chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys, pigeons or other domestic fowl confined within 15 feet of any dwelling within 48 hours of notice. No person may keep a cow or bull without a written permit from the Director of the Office of Public Health. The combined effect is that backyard agricultural birds and large livestock are not by-right uses inside Scranton city limits.

Key details: Backyard Chickens: Must be 15+ feet from any dwelling. Code Hook: Scranton Code Chapter 169. Livestock at Large: Prohibited (Chapter 169). Cows/Bulls: Director of Public Health permit required. State Preemption: None — local authority.

Keeping livestock or fowl in violation of Chapter 169 in Scranton is a summary offense enforced by Scranton Police and the Office of Public Health. Fines under Chapter 169 historically run up to $100 per violation with default imprisonment up to 24 hours, and continuing violations are charged per day. Animals running at large are subject to seizure and impoundment with the owner liable for sheltering and reclaim costs. Keeping a cow or bull without the required Director of Public Health permit is a separate violation. Zoning citations from Code Enforcement can stack on top of Chapter 169 fines.

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

Beekeeping

Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) does not contain an express urban-beekeeping framework, and bees are not listed as a permitted accessory use in residential zones under the Scranton Zoning Ordinance. The practical effect is that any hive proposed within City limits sits in regulatory gray space and would draw nuisance review under Chapter 169 if it triggered complaints. 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: Scranton Urban Beekeeping: Not expressly authorized. Likely Local Hook: Zoning + Ch. 169 nuisance. 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 Scranton where the use is not authorized in the underlying zoning district, or where a hive becomes a public nuisance under Chapter 169, is enforceable as a summary offense with fines historically up to $100 per occurrence plus abatement orders requiring hive removal, and continuing-violation penalties per day. 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.

Compared to other cities, Scranton takes a harder line on beekeeping. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Exotic Pets

Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 addresses dangerous and at-large animals through nuisance and restraint provisions, and the Scranton Zoning Ordinance does not list exotic species as a customary residential accessory use. 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.

Key details: Local Hook: Scranton Code Ch. 169 + zoning. 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 dangerous or at-large animal in Scranton in violation of Chapter 169 is a summary offense with fines historically up to $100 plus default imprisonment up to 24 hours and abatement orders. 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 Scranton's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Animal Hoarding

Scranton addresses animal hoarding through two overlapping frameworks: (1) Chapter 169 of the Code of Ordinances, which prohibits keeping animals in a manner that disturbs the peace or constitutes a health hazard to the citizens of the City of Scranton; 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. Pennsylvania SPCA-trained humane officers, working with Griffin Pond Animal Shelter (Humane Society of Lackawanna County), enforce the criminal statutes alongside Scranton Police.

Key details: Local Hook: Scranton Code Ch. 169 nuisance/health hazard. 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). Old Section 5511: Repealed 2017 — superseded.

Scranton Chapter 169 nuisance citations are summary offenses with fines historically up to $100 plus default imprisonment up to 24 hours, abatement orders, and continuing-violation penalties per day. 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.

Compared to other cities, Scranton takes a harder line on animal hoarding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Wildlife Feeding

Scranton's local wildlife-feeding enforcement runs through Chapter 169 nuisance provisions of the Code of 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 (DMAs). Lackawanna County's DMA status changes after new CWD detections — verify the current Pennsylvania Game Commission CWD map before placing deer feed.

Key details: Local Hook: Scranton Code Ch. 169 nuisance. Bear/Elk Feeding: Prohibited statewide (58 Pa. Code Section 137.33). Deer Feeding: Prohibited only in DMAs (Section 137.34). Lackawanna DMA Status: Verify current PGC CWD map. Authorizing Statute: 34 Pa.C.S. Section 103.

Chapter 169 nuisance citations in Scranton historically run up to $100 per occurrence with default imprisonment up to 24 hours, 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 Lackawanna County is within an active CWD DMA, deer-feeding violations under Section 137.34 become similar summary offenses with PGC fines. Feeding that draws bears into populated Scranton neighborhoods can also trigger a written notice from the Commission prohibiting further activity at that location.

Pet Limits

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.

Key details: Household Cap: 6 dogs+cats combined (lots under 1 acre). Local Hook: Scranton Code Ch. 169. Age Threshold: Counts dogs/cats over 3 months. State Dog License: Each dog 3 months+ annually. License Office: Lackawanna County Treasurer.

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.

Dog Leash Laws

Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) prohibits dogs from running at large in the City, requires that any leash or chain not exceed six feet in length, and authorizes Scranton Police and contracted animal-control authorities to seize dogs running at large. As of January 1, 2023 the City of Scranton no longer issues a separate City dog license — owners license through the Lackawanna County Treasurer under the Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-201, which requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually.

Key details: At Large: Prohibited — Scranton Code Ch. 169. Leash Length: 6 feet maximum. City Dog License: Not required since Jan 1, 2023. State Dog License: Required — Lackawanna County Treasurer. Tethering Floor: PA Libre's Law 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533.

Off-leash and at-large violations under Chapter 169 are summary offenses enforced by Scranton Police. The historic Chapter 169 penalty is a fine of not more than $100 or default imprisonment up to 24 hours, with impoundment, sheltering, and reclaim fees stacked on top if the dog is picked up. Failing to license a dog under 3 P.S. Section 459-201 is a separate state offense with fines up to $300 per dog enforced by Pennsylvania Dog Wardens. Repeat off-leash incidents that result in bites can trigger dangerous-dog proceedings under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A heard in the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County.

The Bottom Line

Scranton is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Scranton, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Scranton'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.