Animal Ordinances in Hackensack, NJ (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Hackensack, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Hackensack requires a Health Department permit to keep chickens or other fowl, along with pigs, cows, horses, sheep, goats, or other cattle, anywhere in the city. Chicken hens are the only animal exempted from the citywide ban on keeping such animals in the six residential zoning districts, but a permit is still required.
Hackensack Requires Permit to Keep Chickens, Livestock
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 52-1, 52-6
§ 52-1. Permit required to keep certain animals. No person, firm or corporation shall raise, keep, harbor or have in any manner whatsoever any live fowl, pig, cow, horse, beast of burden, sheep, goat or other cattle ... unless, until and only as long as there has been granted and shall remain in force and effect a permit so to do, issued by the Health Department of the City of Hackensack. § 52-...
Dog Leash Laws
Dogs off their owner's property in Hackensack must be muzzled or kept on a leash no longer than eight feet under Section 52-15C. The Health Officer can also designate additional muzzling periods by newspaper publication, and every dog off-premises must wear its license tag on a collar or harness.
Hackensack Caps Dog Leashes at Eight Feet
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 52-15C
C. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to run upon any public street or in any public park or in any public building or in any other public place within the city unless such dog is muzzled or unless such dog is controlled by an adequate leash not more than eight feet long. The Health Officer may, by rule, regulation or resolution, also designate other times ...
Breed Restrictions
Hackensack's dog code does not single out breeds by name, but Section 52-15F bars any vicious or dangerous dog from being brought into or remaining in the city, and Section 52-16 lets the Health Officer impound and destroy such dogs at his discretion.
Hackensack Bans Vicious, Dangerous Dogs Citywide
Heavy RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 52-15F, 52-16A
§ 52-15. Regulations and restrictions. ... ... F. No person shall permit any vicious or dangerous dog to be brought into or remain within the city. ... § 52-16. ... Impounding of dogs. A. The following dogs may be impounded by the Health Officer: ... (3) Vicious and dangerous dogs. (Such dogs may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the Health Officer.)
Exotic Pets
Hackensack requires a Health Department permit before anyone keeps a lion or tiger cub, cheetah, snake, or other undomesticated animal, and bars every animal on that list, chicken hens excepted, from all six residential zoning districts. The rules sit in Chapter 52's general animal-keeping article.
Hackensack Restricts Wild, Exotic Animals as Pets
Significant RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 52-1, 52-6
§ 52-1. Permit required to keep certain animals. No person, firm or corporation shall raise, keep, harbor or have in any manner whatsoever any ... lion or tiger cub, cheetah, snake or other undomesticated animal unless, until and only as long as there has been granted and shall remain in force and effect a permit so to do, issued by the Health Department of the City of Hackensack. § 52- ... ......
Wildlife Feeding
Hackensack prohibits feeding any wildlife, deer, geese, or other wild animals, on public parks or other city-owned property under Article VIII of Chapter 52. Section 52-44 bans the conduct outright, and Section 52-46 backs it with a fine of up to $1,000. The ban excludes confined wildlife kept at zoos, rehabilitation centers, or environmental education facilities.
Hackensack Bans Feeding Wildlife on City Property
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 52-44, 52-46
§ 52-44. Prohibited conduct. No person shall feed, in any public park or on any other property owned or operated by the City of Hackensack, any wildlife, excluding confined wildlife (for example, wildlife confined in zoos, parks or rehabilitation centers, or unconfined wildlife at environmental education centers). § 52-4 ... ... 6. Violations and penalties. Any person(s) who is found to be in v...
Cat Rules
Every cat over seven months old in Hackensack must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed with the Health Department under Article VI of Chapter 52. Licenses expire January 31 each year, and violators face fines from $25 to $500 per offense under Section 52-35.
Hackensack Requires Cat Licensing, Rabies Shots
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 52-32A, 52-33A
§ 52-32. Rabies vaccination required; exceptions. A. Vaccination and license requirements. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over seven months of age within the City of Hackensack unless such cat is vaccinated and licensed. ... § 52-33. ... Licensing requirements. A. Cats must have license number displayed. Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a cat of licensing age shal...
Pet Store Rules
Hackensack pet shops can only offer dogs and cats obtained from an animal care facility or animal rescue organization, never a breeder or broker, under Section 52-21. No pet shop may sell a dog or cat younger than eight weeks old, and every kennel dog off-premises must be leashed or crated.
Hackensack Pet Shops Must Sell Rescue Animals
Significant RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 52-21
A pet shop may offer for sale only those dogs and cats that the pet shop has obtained from or displays in cooperation with: (1) An animal care facility; or (2) An animal rescue organization. ... B. A pet shop shall not offer for sale a dog or cat that is younger than eight weeks old. ... C. No dog kept in a kennel, pet shop, dog shelter or pound shall be permitted off such premises except on le...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Hackensack allows animal hospitals and boarding facilities as a conditional use, but only if the site sits at least 200 feet from any Residential Zone District. Overnight boarding is limited to true veterinary treatment needs, outdoor runs must be at least 400 feet from residential or office property, and each facility can house up to five house pets per employee.
Hackensack Animal Hospital & Boarding Siting Rules
Significant RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 175-8.2C(1)
No such facility may be located within 200 feet of a Residential (R) Zone District. ... Overnight boarding shall only be permitted for veterinary/animal hospitals as needed for proper treatment. Otherwise, animal boarding services shall be limited only to daytime.
Bird Protection
Hackensack's park rules make it unlawful to hunt, harm, trap, chase, shoot at or otherwise molest any bird in a city park or public area, or to possess the eggs or nest of a wild bird. The rule sits in Chapter 117's animal provisions alongside a leash requirement and a park-wide ban on damaging vegetation that could injure birds or wildlife.
Hackensack Ban on Harming Birds in City Parks
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 117-2A(3)
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw any missile at any animal or bird, or have in his possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any birds.
Looking for Bergen County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hackensack city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Bergen County →