Moving to New Jersey With a Dog or Cat: Licenses and Rabies Rules

In New Jersey, every dog seven months or older has to be licensed each year through the town where you live, and the license requires a rabies vaccination that lasts through at least ten months of the license year. If your dog already has a license from another state, you apply for a New Jersey license right away if you're staying 90 days or more. Cats have no statewide license or import rule, but most towns license cats too.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. Plenty of my out-of-state buyers are moving with a dog or a cat, and the pet is often on the must-have list right next to the yard. Here's what the New Jersey Department of Health says you need.

Do you need to license your dog when you move to New Jersey?

Yes. The Department of Health says, "Dogs seven months of age or older must be licensed annually through the municipality where the owner lives." State law lets you license every year or every third year, and you apply through the town clerk.

For a dog moving in from another state, the Department's 2026 guidance draws two lines:

• Licensed in another state: apply for a New Jersey license immediately in the town where the dog is kept "if they are remaining in New Jersey for 90 days or more."
• Not licensed anywhere: owners of unlicensed dogs "staying in the state for more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a dog license."

License fees are set and kept by each town, so check your town clerk's page for the amount and how to apply.

What rabies vaccination does a New Jersey dog license require?

The vaccination has to be current, and its immunity has to "extend through at least ten months of the twelve-month license period." If your dog's shot runs out early in the license year, get the booster first. A veterinarian can certify a medical exemption when a dog can't be vaccinated.

Does your dog need a health certificate to come into New Jersey?

Yes. Under the state rule, "Dogs imported into New Jersey are required to be accompanied by a health certificate completed and signed by a veterinarian licensed in the country or state of origin," and it "should be completed and signed within 30 days of travel." Book that vet visit in your old hometown about a month before the move, and ask for copies of every vaccination record while you're there.

What are the rules for cats?

Lighter at the state level. The Department of Health says, "There are no specific requirements for importation of cats into New Jersey." It also says vaccination against rabies "is strongly recommended for all cats in New Jersey, including cats kept exclusively indoors," and that "most New Jersey municipalities have cat licensing requirements which require current rabies vaccination." So check your new town's rules, and bring the rabies certificate with you.

Where can you get a free rabies shot in Monmouth or Ocean County?

New Jersey's Department of Health provides free rabies vaccine for municipal clinics, so free clinics run throughout the year.

• Monmouth County. The Monmouth County Health Department says New Jersey residents can go to any free rabies clinic in the state, regardless of their town, and posts clinic dates on the county's event calendar.
• Ocean County. The Ocean County Health Department's Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities offer free rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs by appointment. The Northern facility (732-657-8086) holds them on the first and third Wednesday, and the Southern facility (609-978-0127) on the second and fourth Wednesday.

What should you look for in a home if you have a pet?

• The yard and the fence. Check the fence line, the gate latches and the town's fence rules before you plan a new one.
• Association rules. If you're buying a condo, a townhome or a home in a community with an association, read the pet rules in the association documents before you make an offer. They can limit the number, size or type of pets.
• Floors and finishes. As a former builder and remodeler, I'll tell you which floors will hold up to claws and which won't, before you buy, not after.
• Room to roam. The Monmouth County Park System's Thompson Park in Lincroft has an off-leash dog area, and both counties' park systems have miles of trails. Check each town's beach rules before you bring a dog to the sand.

Tell me about your pet when we set up your search. It changes which homes I send you. The relocation page shows how I help people buy from another state, and my free Relocation Guide has the full new-resident checklist.

What's the pet checklist for moving day?

1. About a month out: vet visit for the health certificate, rabies booster if needed, and copies of every record.
2. Update the microchip with your new address and phone.
3. Once you move in: apply for the dog license with your town clerk, and check whether your town licenses cats.
4. Find a new vet and an emergency animal hospital near your new home before you need one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to license my dog after moving to New Jersey?

If your dog is licensed in another state, apply immediately if you're staying 90 days or more. If your dog isn't licensed anywhere, apply immediately once you're staying more than 10 days.

Do cats need a license in New Jersey?

Not under state law, but most New Jersey towns require cat licensing with a current rabies vaccination. Check your town's rules.

Do I need a health certificate to bring my dog to New Jersey?

Yes. Dogs coming into New Jersey need a health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian from the state of origin, ideally within 30 days of travel.

Where do I license my dog in New Jersey?

Through the clerk of the municipality where you live, every year or every third year.

This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Confirm current requirements with your town clerk, your veterinarian and the New Jersey Department of Health.

About the author

Dennis Mark Interdonato is a REALTOR® and Master CDRE® who leads The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living in Point Pleasant, NJ, helping buyers and sellers throughout New Jersey make their next move, with Monmouth and Ocean County as home base. Read more about Dennis Mark.

Keep reading

• Moving to New Jersey: your first 60 days
• Living at the Jersey Shore year-round
• Selling a New Jersey home before you move? Start with a free home value.
• Have a question this didn't answer? Send it to Dennis Mark and it may become the next article.