Animal Ordinances in Bensalem, PA (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Bensalem, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Bensalem Township treats backyard poultry and livestock as an agricultural use confined to two zoning districts. Section 232-110(2) permits it in the R-A Rural district, and section 232-212(a)(2) permits more intensive livestock and poultry operations in the R-AA district, both requiring any barn or coop to sit at least 50 feet from the street line and 25 feet from any other property line, with piggeries banned outright.
Bensalem Backyard Poultry and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 232-110(2), 232-212(a)(2)
(2)Agricultural or farm use, except piggery, provided that any building used for keeping or raising livestock or poultry shall be situated not less than 50 feet from any street line and not less than 25 feet from any other property line. This use may include one single-family dwelling. ... (2)Intensive agricultural or farm use, which shall mean: The growing and harvesting of crops and the keepi...
Breed Restrictions
Bensalem Township has no breed-specific dog ban. Chapter 80 instead defines a 'vicious dog' by conduct: any dog that has bitten three or more people, has viciously attacked a person off its owner's property without cause, or is known to have a propensity to bite or attack. Section 80-7 hands vicious-dog and bite incidents to the Commonwealth's Dog Law rather than setting a separate local procedure.
Bensalem Township Vicious Dog Definition
Few RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 80-1, 80-7
Vicious dog or dogs. Any dog or dogs that have bitten three or more people or which have viciously and without cause attacked a human being when off the premises of the owner or keeper of said dog or one which is known or should be known to have a propensity to bite or attack people or other animals. ... Sec. 80-7. - Vicious dogs; bites. Provisions regarding vicious dogs and incidents of dog bi...
Wildlife Feeding
In Bensalem Township, feeding a stray or feral cat is unlawful unless you join the Township's humane feral cat program and register the colony every year. Township Council enforces through the animal control officer, with fines up to $500 per violation.
Bensalem Feral Cat Feeding Rules
Significant RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 80-21, 80-22
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to intentionally provide food, water, shelter and/or other forms of sustenance and/or care to any stray cat and/or feral cat unless said person and/or said organization participates in a humane feral cat program sponsored by the Township and adheres to the strict guidelines set forth in that program and in this article. The Township may spo...
Cat Rules
Bensalem Township has no individual cat-licensing requirement, but Chapter 80's cat article regulates feral colonies. Feeding a stray or feral cat is unlawful unless the caretaker joins the Township's humane feral-cat program, and maintaining a feral cat colony requires annual registration with the animal control officer by December 31, with any newly discovered colony registered within 30 days, plus the officer's inspection and approval of the colony site.
Feral Cat Colony Registration in Bensalem
Significant RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 80-18, 80-21
Caretaker means a person or organization who provides food, water, shelter or other forms of sustenance or care to a feral cat colony. Feral cat means a homeless, wild or untamed cat. ... It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to intentionally provide food, water, shelter and/or other forms of sustenance and/or care to any stray cat and/or feral cat unless said person and/or said o...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Bensalem Township makes it unlawful for an owner to let a cat run free outside the home unless the cat is spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and identified by a collar tag or microchip. Section 80-20 separately bars letting a cat roam off the owner's own property at any time, regardless of sterilization status, and violations of the cat article are fined $100 to $500 plus costs.
Bensalem Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 80-20, 80-22
Sec. 80-20 - Responsibilities of owners and keepers of stray cats. (a)It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of any cat to permit such cat to run free outside of the residence of its owner or keeper unless said cat has been:(1)Neutered or spayed to prevent it from procreating;(2)Immunized against rabies; and(3)Identified as the property of its owner or keeper by means of a collar and tag ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A veterinary office is not an as-of-right use anywhere in Bensalem Township. In the R-AA district, section 232-212(a)(5)a of the Zoning Code allows a veterinarian's office with an accessory kennel only as a special exception granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, and any kennel, dog run for more than two dogs, or stable serving the practice must sit at least 50 feet from every property line.
Bensalem Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 232-212(a)(5)a, 232-349(8)
(5)The following uses when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception:a.An office or facility of a veterinarian, with accessory kennel for domestic or rural animals as defined in subsection 232-6(a). Kennels and dog runs for more than two dogs, stables and other accessory buildings serving rural animals shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any property line. ... (8)Prof...
Looking for Bucks County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bensalem city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Bucks County →