Animal Ordinances in Piscataway, NJ (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Piscataway, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Piscataway Township lets residents keep chickens, fowl, rabbits and other domestic animals, but Code § 5-21.1 bars letting them stray or run at large anywhere in the Township. The rule sets no coop, setback or headcount limit for chickens specifically; it groups them with cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and violators face fines under § 5-21.2.
Piscataway Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules
Light RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-21.1, 5-21.2
No person having the care, control, custody or management of any cattle, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, fowl, domestic rabbits or other domestic animals shall permit or allow such cattle, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, fowl, domestic rabbits or other domestic animals to stray or run at large within the limits of the Township. ... Any person violating any provision of this article shall, upon co...
Dog Leash Laws
Piscataway Township Code § 5-5 bars dogs from running at large on public streets, parks or buildings and requires any dog in a public place to be on a leash no longer than six feet, held by someone at least 12 years old. Both rules apply regardless of whether the dog is licensed.
Piscataway Township Dog Leash Requirement
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-5, 5-9.5
§ 5-5. REGULATIONS. ... No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog in the Township except in compliance with the provisions of this article and the following regulations. ... ... e. Running at Large. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public streets or in any public park, public building or other public place within the Township. f. ...
Breed Restrictions
Piscataway Township Code § 5-3 does not target dog breeds; it adopts New Jersey's vicious and potentially dangerous dog law, N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq., for any dog a Municipal Judge declares vicious after it attacks or bites a person or habitually attacks other animals. Owners of a declared dog pay a $700 local license fee.
Piscataway Township Vicious Dog Declaration Rules
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-1, 5-3.1, 5-3.2, 5-9.1
VICIOUS DOG Shall mean any dog which has been declared by a Municipal Judge to be a vicious dog which has attacked or bitten any human being, or which habitually attacks other dogs or domestic animals. ... ... § 5-3. VICIOUS DOGS. § 5-3.1. Requirements. ... The provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq. imposing a set of requirements on the owners of vicious or potentially dangerous dogs are hereby...
Wildlife Feeding
Piscataway Township Code § 5-23.3 makes it illegal to feed deer, geese or any other wild animal in a Township park or on other Township-owned property. The rule targets unconfined wildlife only, exempts zoos, rehab centers and environmental education centers, and requires an immediate stop-order before a fine up to $200 applies.
Piscataway Bans Feeding Wildlife in Public Parks
Significant RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-23.1, 5-23.3, 5-23.4, 5-23.5
To prohibit the feeding of unconfined wildlife in any public park or on any other property owned or operated by the Township of Piscataway, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for failure to comply. ... No person shall feed, in any public park or on any other property owned or operated by the Township of Piscataway, any wildlife, excluding confined wil...
Pet Limits
Piscataway Township Code § 5-5.h caps most households at five dogs on any residential, commercial or industrial property, and at two dogs per unit in a townhouse, condominium, apartment or similar multifamily building. Puppies under four months old, licensed kennels and service or rescue dogs are excepted.
Piscataway Township Household Dog Limit
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 1-5.1, 5-5.h
§ 1-5.1. Maximum Penalty. ... For violation of any provision of this Code or other ordinance of the Township of Piscataway, unless a specific penalty is otherwise provided in connection with the provision violated, the maximum penalty upon conviction of the violation shall be by one or more of the following: imprisonment in the County Jail or in any place provided by the Township for the detent...
Cat Rules
Piscataway Township Code § 5-16 requires every cat past licensing age to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed with the Township. Section 5-18 makes it unlawful for a cat to run at large, lets the Township impound a stray, unlicensed or biting cat, and charges $50 a day to reclaim an impounded or boarded cat.
Piscataway Township Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-16.1, 5-18.2, 5-18.4, 5-18.6
§ 5-16. VACCINATION AND LICENSING OF CATS. § 5-16.1. Vaccination and Licensing Requirements. ... No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat of licensing age within the Township unless the cat is vaccinated against rabies and licensed. ... ... § 5-18.2. Running at Large Unlawful. ... No owner shall permit or allow any cat of licensing age to run at large. § 5-18. ... ... 4. Impoundmen...
Pet Store Rules
Piscataway Township Code § 5-11 lets pet shops sell dogs and cats but requires a Township Clerk license before opening. Annual license fees run $10 for a pet shop, $10 for a small kennel and $25 for a kennel housing more than 10 dogs, while a rescue, shelter or pound pays no fee.
Piscataway Township Pet Shop Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township Code §§ 5-11.1, 5-11.4, 5-11.5, 5-11.8
§ 5-11. LICENSING OF PET SHOPS, KENNELS, SHELTERS, POUNDS. § 5-11.1. License Required. ... Any person who keeps or operates, or proposes to establish a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall apply to the Township Clerk for a license entitling him to keep or operate such establishment and receive a zoning permit approval from the Department of Community Development. ... ... § 5-11.4. License T...