Cape May County · Cape May County
Dog Waste Removal in Upper Township, New Jersey
Upper Township's 10 villages spread over 68.7 square miles, from Tuckahoe and Petersburg on the mainland to the beach village of Strathmere, where dogs stay off the sand from March 15 through Sept. 30. Section 8-5.6 of the township code requires owners to pick up after their dogs immediately.

- WhereTownship of Upper
- ZIP codes08223, 08230, 08248, 08250, 08270
- SchedulesTwice weekly to monthly
- After a visitA photo of your latched gate
Dog waste removal in Upper Township
Upper Township, from a dog owner's point of view.
Upper Township sits at the northern end of Cape May County, and the township's history page calls it principally rural. The Census Bureau estimated 12,406 residents in July 2024. Before the Revolution, Petersburg was called Littleworth and Tuckahoe was Williamsburg, and the township notes that Tuckahoe is the only Indian place name left in the county.
On the mainland, the township warns that long or heavy rain can flood streets and yards, and in 2009 high groundwater overtopped stormwater basins in Seaville. Township code also sets yard rules: a tethered dog needs a tangle-free line of at least 15 feet and access to a dog house, no dog may be tethered after dark, and dogs that are not spayed or neutered may not be tethered at all. The coyote tips on the township's Animal Control page urge owners to bring small pets in at night and keep lawns mowed.
In summer, lifeguards cover parts of Strathmere's 1.3 miles of natural beach and the beach at Beesley's Point Park. Township beaches were free in 2026, and an ordinance adopted Aug. 24, 2026 created beach tags for visitors 16 and older, now on sale for the 2027 season.
Sections of Upper Township
- Beesleys Point
- Marmora
- Palermo
- Seaville
- Tuckahoe
- Greenfield
- Marshallville
- Steelmantown
- Petersburg
- Strathmere

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- Serving Atlantic and Cape May Counties since 2025
Out and about
Where Upper Township dogs play.
Parks, trails and dog runs in and around town, from the town's and county's own pages.
Upper Township Dog Park
1700 Mt. Pleasant-Tuckahoe Road, Upper Township, NJ
The township dog park has two fenced areas entered through double-gated vestibules. Passes run Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 and cost $30 a year ($2.50 for each remaining month when bought mid-year) or $10 a week. Dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and registered with the township, each handler may bring two dogs at most, and waste must be picked up immediately.
Strathmere beach
Strathmere has 1.3 miles of natural beach. Under the township code, dogs may go on the beach from Oct. 1 through March 14 on a leash of 6 feet or less, and are banned from March 15 through Sept. 30.
Strathmere Natural Area
A state natural area of 78 to 98 acres in Corson's Inlet State Park, where endangered piping plovers, least terns and black skimmers nest in undisturbed dunes. The state bars dogs there from April 1 through Sept. 15. At other times keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet and clean up after them.
Good neighbors
Upper Township's pick-up rules.
Pooper scooper rule (section 8-5.6)
Since 1987, township code has made it unlawful to let a dog relieve itself on public property, or on private property that is not the owner's or custodian's, unless the waste is removed immediately and placed in a closed container or covered trash receptacle. The township's stormwater page adds: put pet waste in the trash or toilet.
Fines and citations (sections 8-6.4 and 8-7)
Ordinance 013-2024, adopted Sept. 9, 2024, set minimum fines under the animal control chapter at $100 for a first offense in 12 months, $150 for a second and $200 for a third or later one. The New Jersey State Police, the township code enforcement officer or any other person who witnesses a violation may issue a Notice of Violation citation.
Beach season (section 8-5.4b)
No dogs on township beaches from March 15 through Sept. 30. From Oct. 1 through March 14 they may go on the beach on a leash of 6 feet or less.
Parks and public facilities (section 8-5.4a)
Dogs, leashed or not, are kept out of township parks, playgrounds, recreation areas and public buildings, except areas the Township Committee sets aside by resolution, with signs, for leashed dogs, and the dog park.
Why it matters here
Strathmere's 1.3 miles of beachfront face the Atlantic Ocean and Corson's Inlet, and the township's hazard plan lists a stormwater pump and an outfall pipe at Seacliff Avenue on Strathmere Bay. On the mainland, tidal flooding sometimes reaches Cedar Swamp Creek and the Tuckahoe River. The township's stormwater page explains that runoff from lawns and streets flows through gutters, catch basins, pipes and ditches, usually untreated, into local waters, picking up pet droppings on the way, and that the coliform bacteria in animal waste can close swimming beaches.
Where we work
Dog Waste Management Pros on Google Maps
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Atlantic County
Cape May County
Also in Cape May County: Ocean City, Marmora, Sea Isle City, Woodbine, Dennis Township, Middle Township, Cape May Court House.
A little local history
Upper Township, then and now.
- 1723
Upper Township was formed as a precinct on April 2, 1723, when Cape May County was divided into Upper, Middle and Lower townships.
- 1798
The Township Act of Feb. 21, 1798 incorporated New Jersey's original townships, and Upper Township was one of them.
- 1884
Part of the township was taken to form the borough of Ocean City, as part had been taken in 1827 to form Dennis Township.
- 1912
The beach community of Corson's Inlet, bought from Sea Isle City in 1905 for $31,500, was renamed Strathmere.
- 2009
A November 2009 nor'easter caused flooding throughout the township, and most roads in and into Strathmere were impassable with more than four feet of water.
Local favorites
Upper Township's pet businesses.
Vets, groomers and shops that keep local dogs happy. We just handle the other end.
Around town
Things to do in Upper Township.
Beesley's Point Park
At 10 Harbor Road, with a boat ramp (seasonal permit required), a seasonally guarded beach, a pavilion, a boardwalk and fixed pier, and the trailhead of the 1.5-mile Great Egg Harbor multi-use path.
Amanda's Field
A township park at 10 Sunset Drive in Petersburg with a 1.3-mile bicycle and jogging path, a playground, a skate park, a hockey rink and soccer fields.
Caldwell Park
At 1060 Stagecoach Road in Palermo, with the Ft. Nuwi Playground, a football field, two baseball fields and four tennis courts.
Strathmere boat ramps
Boat ramps on Taylor Avenue and Bayview Avenue need no permit, and Bayview Avenue also has a kayak launch.
Services in Upper Township
What we do in Upper Township.
Every service we offer is available in Upper Township. Not sure which you need? Get a quick quote and Doug will help.
Reviews
What New Jersey dog families say.
Frequently asked
Upper Township questions, answered.

What is Upper Township's pooper scooper law?
Section 8-5.6 of the township code requires a dog's owner or custodian to remove its waste immediately from any property that is not theirs. It must go in a closed container or covered trash receptacle, and since September 2024 fines start at $100.
When can dogs go on the beach in Strathmere?
Dogs may use Upper Township beaches, including Strathmere's, from Oct. 1 through March 14 on a leash of 6 feet or less. They are banned from March 15 through Sept. 30, and the state's Strathmere Natural Area is closed to dogs from April 1 through Sept. 15.
Is there a dog park in Upper Township?
Yes, the township has a fenced, pass-controlled dog park, listed on its pass application at 1700 Mt. Pleasant-Tuckahoe Road. Passes cost $30 a year or $10 a week, and handlers must pick up waste immediately.
Can I walk my dog in Upper Township parks?
Usually not, because section 8-5.4 keeps dogs out of township parks, playgrounds, recreation areas and public buildings. The exceptions are areas the Township Committee sets aside by resolution for leashed dogs, and the dog park.
Why does dog waste matter for Upper Township's waters?
Stormwater here flows through gutters, catch basins, pipes and ditches, usually untreated, into local waterways. The township warns that the coliform bacteria in animal waste can force beach closings when it washes into swimming waters.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in Egg Harbor Township and serve Atlantic County and nearby Cape May County towns, including Somers Point, Linwood, Ocean City, Upper Township, Sea Isle City and Cape May Court House. Get a quick quote with your ZIP code to check your street.
Do you scoop in the winter?
Yes. Our crew works through the shore's winter weather too.
Still have questions?
Call (609) 356-8999Nearby towns we also serve
- Ocean City
- Sea Isle City
- Woodbine
- Dennis Township
- Corbin City
- Egg Harbor Township
- Somers Point
- Linwood
Sources for this page
- Upper Township Code (archived copy, 2026)
- Upper Township: Sports and Recreation
- US Census Bureau: population estimates (July 2024)
- Cape May County Hazard Mitigation Plan: Upper Township annex (2016)
- Upper Township: Hazard Mitigation Plan update (2020 draft)
- Upper Township: History
- Upper Township: Flood Hazards
- Upper Township: Animal Control
- Upper Township: Coyote Prevention Tips
- Upper Township Beach Patrol: Beach Information
- Upper Township: Parks and Fields
- Upper Township: Ordinance 014-2026 (beach tags)
- Upper Township: Strathmere Beach Tags
- Upper Township: Clerk forms
- Upper Township: Dog Park application and rules
- NJDEP: Natural Areas summary table (archived copy)
- NJDEP: Corson's Inlet State Park (archived copy)
- Upper Township Code, Chapter 8 animals (archived copy, 2021)
- Upper Township: Stormwater Management Information
- Upper Township: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (2023)
- Upper Township: Ordinance 013-2024 (animal control fines)
- Upper Township: 2021 ordinances
- Beach Buddies Animal Hospital
- Parkway Veterinary Hospital: locations
- Upper Township Code: contents (eCode360)
- Upper Township: Stormwater Management Plan
- City of Ocean City: Animal Control

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