Animal Ordinances in Linden, NJ (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Linden, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Linden bars dogs from running at large on any public street, place or building, or on property other than the owner's, unless securely confined on a leash no longer than six feet. Dog parks are exempt, and posted parks can bar dogs entirely.
Linden Dog Leash and At-Large Prohibition
Some RestrictionsLinden City Code § 5-1.9
No person owning or keeping any dog shall permit it to be or to run at-large upon any public street, place or building or upon premises other than those of the owner of such dog within the City, unless such dog shall be securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six (6) feet long. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any property or park designated as a "do...
Breed Restrictions
Linden has no breed-specific ban; Section 5-3 instead lets the Municipal Court declare a specific dog vicious or potentially dangerous based on its own conduct, such as an unprovoked attack causing serious injury or death, under New Jersey's statewide dangerous dog law.
Linden's Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsLinden City Code §§ 5-3.4, 5-3.9
a. The municipal court shall declare the dog vicious if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the dog: killed a person or caused serious bodily injury to a person; ... The owner of a potentially dangerous dog ... who is found by clear and convincing evidence to have violated this act, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or to have failed to comply with a court's order s...
Wildlife Feeding
Linden prohibits feeding any wildlife or stray domestic animals, on public or private property, defining wildlife broadly to include pigeons, waterfowl, feral cats, raccoons, skunks and groundhogs. Songbird feeding is allowed only under strict conditions.
Linden Wildlife and Stray Animal Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsLinden City Code § 5-5
No person shall feed any wildlife or domestic stray animals on any property, public or private within the City of Linden. This prohibition shall not apply to the feeding of song birds provided feeding of song birds is in compliance with subsection 5-5.4. ... WILDLIFE Shall mean all animals that are neither human or domesticated, shall include but not be limited to pigeons, waterfowl, feral cats...
Pet Limits
No Linden dwelling unit may hold licenses for or keep more than three dogs at one time. Puppies under six months old do not count toward that limit under the City's dog licensing chapter.
Linden Household Dog Limit
Some RestrictionsLinden City Code § 5-1.3
No dwelling unit may hold licenses for more than or keep more than, three (3) dogs at any one time. Puppies under the age of six months are exempt from regulation by this section.
Pet Store Rules
Linden pet shops may sell only dogs and cats obtained from an animal care facility or a nonprofit animal rescue organization, and may never sell a dog or cat younger than eight weeks old, under Section 5-6.2's sourcing restriction.
Linden's Adoption-Only Pet Shop Rule
Significant RestrictionsLinden City Code § 5-6.2
a. 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 (8) weeks old.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Linden's zoning code defines an 'animal hospital' as a place where animals get medical or surgical treatment, with any kennel use limited to short-term boarding incidental to that care. Veterinary hospitals are expressly excluded from the home occupation definition in § 31-2, so they cannot run out of a house; the code lists animal hospitals as a permitted principal use only in the PCD and C1-B commercial districts.
Linden Zoning Rules for Veterinary Hospitals
Some RestrictionsLinden City Code §§ 31-2, 31-11.2, 31-12.1
ANIMAL HOSPITAL A place where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment. Use as a kennel shall be limited to short-term boarding and shall be incidental to such hospital use. ... HOME OCCUPATION An activity carried out for gain by a resident, conducted entirely within a dwelling unit, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the lot for residential purposes. The ter...
Bird Protection
Linden bans feeding wildlife and stray animals citywide but carves out an exception for song birds: feeders must sit at least four feet off the ground, stay enclosed, and not create droppings or a nuisance for neighbors, under Section 5-5.
Linden's Rules for Feeding Song Birds
Some RestrictionsLinden City Code §§ 5-5.3, 5-5.4
No person shall feed any wildlife or domestic stray animals on any property, public or private within the City of Linden. This prohibition shall not apply to the feeding of song birds provided feeding of song birds is in compliance with subsection 5-5.4. ... Feeding of songbirds shall be permitted outdoors at such times and such manner that: ... ... d. Bird feeders are enclosed and placed at le...
Looking for Union County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Linden city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Union County →