Animal Ordinances in Atlantic County, NJ (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Atlantic County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Atlantic County requires any pet in a County parks area to be restrained on a leash no longer than six feet under § 97-12, or it may be seized and treated as a stray. Owners must also clean up pet waste under § 97-13, and violations of Chapter 97 carry a fine of $100 to $500 per offense.
Atlantic County Park Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsAtlantic County Code § 97-12 (Animals)
No person shall cause or permit any animal owned by him or her, in his or her custody or under his or her control to go or be in a County parks area, except a service animal or a household pet when restrained by a leash not exceeding six feet in length or a horse ridden or pulling a vehicle in an area designated therefor and under proper control. Any animal found at large may be seized and deal...
Wildlife Feeding
Atlantic County bars feeding any wildlife on County property under § 97-19, a rule the Board of County Commissioners added January 24, 2006 by Ordinance No. 1-2006. 'County property' reaches every County-owned or controlled park, street, sidewalk and right-of-way, and Park Rangers enforce the ban with a $100 to $500 fine per offense.
Atlantic County Feeding Wildlife Ban
Heavy RestrictionsAtlantic County Code § 97-19 (Feeding of Wildlife on County Property Prohibited)
No person shall feed any wildlife on County property. "County property" shall include any land, water or building owned by and controlled or leased, occupied and controlled by the County, including any land or water used for recreation or conservation purposes, and any street, road, highway, alley, sidewalk or other right-of-way.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Atlantic County will not release a dog or cat from its Animal Shelter until the animal has been spayed or neutered and given age-appropriate immunizations, under County Code § 4-35.1(B). The Division of Public Health runs the Shelter and bundles the surgery into adoption fees of $110 for dogs and $85 for cats.
Atlantic County Shelter Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsAtlantic County Code § 4-35.1(B)
A. The Atlantic County Animal Shelter is hereby authorized, in compliance with all statutory requirements and with all rules and regulations promulgated by the State Department of Health, to operate an Animal Shelter for the treatment, quarantine, euthanasia, distribution and any and all other appropriate services regarding stray or lost dogs and cats received by the Shelter. B. No animal ...
Animal Ordinances by City in Atlantic County
1 cities in Atlantic County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Atlantic County ordinances
See every category we cover for Atlantic County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Atlantic County Ordinance Hub →