Animal Ordinances in Jersey City, NJ (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Jersey City, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Jersey City regulates farm poultry, not general livestock, under Article II of Chapter 90. Anyone keeping pigeons, chickens or other poultry needs a Health Officer license, written consent from a majority of neighbors on the block, and must keep the birds at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling: with a hard cap of 50 birds per keeper.
Jersey City Backyard Poultry Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code §§ 90-6, 90-7
No pigeons, chickens or other poultry shall be kept within 25 feet of any structure owned by another and used for human habitation, occupation or assembly, provided that in no case shall any person or persons be permitted to keep more than 50 chickens, ducks or other poultry, including pigeons. No pigeons, chickens or other poultry shall be permitted to run, fly or stray within 25 feet of such ...
Dog Leash Laws
Jersey City requires every dog off its owner's property to be under the control of a leash no more than six feet long, per City Code § 90-16. The rule covers every public street, sidewalk and park in the city, with the only exception being an official dog run posted by the Division of Parks and Forestry. Dogs boarded at a kennel, day care, pet shop, shelter or pound must also stay leashed or crated once off the premises.
Jersey City Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 90-16
A. Except in an area designated as a dog run by the City of Jersey City Division of Parks and Forestry with official signage erected clearly indicating such dog run, no person who owns, keeps or harbors any dog shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any of the public places of the city unless such dog is accompanied by a responsible person and is securely confined and con...
Breed Restrictions
Jersey City doesn't ban any dog breed outright: its dangerous-dog rules in § 90-17 turn on documented behavior, not breed, once a dog meets the § 90-12 definition of 'vicious' or 'dangerous.' Owners of a declared vicious or dangerous dog must be 18 or older, keep the dog in a secure enclosure with warning signage, and muzzle and leash the dog on a chain no longer than six feet whenever it leaves the property.
Jersey City Dangerous Dog Owner Rules
Significant RestrictionsJersey City Code § 90-17
Ownership of a vicious or dangerous dog is subject to the following regulations at all times: A. A vicious or dangerous dog shall not be owned by any person under the age of 18 years of age. B. The owner of a vicious or dangerous dog must provide a proper enclosure to confine a vicious or dangerous dog together with the posting on the premises of a clearly visible warning sign that there is a v...
Exotic Pets
Keeping an exotic, non-game or potentially dangerous wildlife species as a pet in Jersey City requires a state Fish and Wildlife permit and a separate city registration under § 90-23. A related 2016 ordinance, § 90-24, bans any performance, ride or exhibition involving an exotic animal anywhere in the city, public or private, to protect both the animals and the public from traveling-exhibit risks.
Jersey City Exotic Wildlife Possession Rules
Significant RestrictionsJersey City Code §§ 90-23, 90-24
No person shall possess any exotic, nongame or potentially dangerous species of wildlife in the City of Jersey City unless issued a permit for such wildlife by the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:25-4 et seq. and unless such wildlife is registered with the Jersey City Division of Health. The annual fee for registration shall be as provided in Chapt...
Pet Limits
Jersey City lets the Division of Health order the owner of any dwelling, structure or outdoor area to abate a public-health nuisance created by animals, and to remove the animals if the owner doesn't comply within a set deadline: the tool the city uses against hoarding and unsanitary multi-animal conditions.
Jersey City Animal Nuisance / Hoarding Rule
Significant RestrictionsJersey City Code § 90-2(A)-(B)
No person may keep an animal, whether licensed or exempted from licensing, in any dwelling unit, structure or outdoor area if the Division of Health finds that such animals or the conditions in such facilities constitute a public health nuisance. Whenever the Division of Health finds that any animals kept on private property constitute a nuisance to public health, it may direct the owner or per...
Bird Protection
Jersey City bans hunting, harming, trapping or feeding any animal, reptile or bird within city parks under § 239-4 of the Code. The rule protects wildlife nests, eggs and young from removal, bars giving animals tobacco or alcohol, and is enforced by the Department of Public Works and Department of Public Safety under § 239-16.
Jersey City Park Wildlife and Bird Protection
Significant RestrictionsJersey City Code § 239-4
No person in a park shall: A. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird; nor shall any person remove or have in his or her possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs, nest or young of any reptile or bird; nor shall any person collect, remove, have in his or her possession, give away, sell or offer to sell or buy or of...