Animal Control & Licensing

Dog licenses are renewed during the month of June. One and three year licenses are available starting June 1st with a valid rabies certificate.
For 1 year licenses: Rabies Certificate that expires no earlier than May 1st of the following year.
For 3 year licenses: Rabies Certificate that expires no earlier than May 1st of the third year. (Example: a 3 year license purchased in June of 2019 will need a rabies certificate valid through May 1, 2022)

Renewal reminders will be sent via email. An application will be available on the website or in person at the health department. Renewal applications will be mailed upon request by calling 201 670-5500 ext 503. A Late Fee of $20.00 per dog will be assessed after June 30th.

It is the dog owner’s responsibility to renew the dog license when it expires. It is also the dog owner’s responsibility to maintain their pet with a valid rabies vaccination. The health department sends out reminders as a courtesy and to inform residents of our free rabies clinic.

FORMS:
Application for New Dog License
Rabies Exemption Form

LAWS
Village Code Chapter 105: Click here for an index that contains links to the code provided by General Code. Be patient there is a pause while the link is locating and activating code.
NJ Statutes: NJSA 4:19-15.1 et seq (reprint)

WEBSITES
Dog Licenses
Office of Animal Welfare
Rabies FAQ's
What you should know about bats
What you should know about rabies

Cat Licenses

Changes in the cat-licensing ordinance have been made in order to simplify and improve the program. Over the past several years more and more veterinarians have chosen to use the one-year rabies vaccination when vaccinating cats. We have already initiated a rolling license program to enable cat owners to license their cats during the month in which they receive their rabies booster.

In the past, families with multiple cats could take advantage of the reduced fee for licensing only if their cats were all licensed during the same month. This has now changed. The fee to license additional cats during the same calendar year, but different months, will be the reduced fee. Example: If you have one cat due for its license in January, you will pay $11 for an altered license or $14 for an unaltered license. If you have an additional cat and it is due for licensing in May, you will be able to license it during May for the reduced fee of $7 for an altered cat or $10 for an unaltered cat.

Another change affects cats that receive a 3-year rabies booster from their veterinarians. The ordinance states, "If the cat's rabies shot does not expire at any time during any given calendar year, cats are required to be licensed in January of the calendar year." Example: If you licensed a cat in March 2003 and it's rabies expires in March 2006; you will be required to license it for 2004 in January 2004 and for 2005 in January 2005. In 2006 you will be required to license it in March when its rabies expires and a booster is given.

All previously licensed cat owners will be sent a renewal application approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the month their cat license expires. Only one reminder will be sent. The late fee for licensing cats has also increased. The late fee is now $20 per cat. A late fee is charged if the cat is licensed anytime after the month it was due.

New residents, or current owners who obtain an additional cat, may print out an application and submit for licensing.