Dog License Information: Dogs are required to be licensed at age 6 months. A current rabies certificate is required; license fees: spayed or neutered dogs ? $4.20 or unspayed or non-neutered dogs $7.20. A late fee of $5. will be charged for dogs not licensed by May 1st. The Township holds a free rabies clinic each year in Spring at the Public Works Dept. located at 771 Seashore Rd., Cold Spring. Rabies shots are given to dogs and cats. Dog licenses are available at this time. Call 886-2005 or look for sign in local stores for date of the clinic. Spaying/neutering Information available at Township Hall.

Mercantile License: All persons wishing to conduct a business in Lower Township must first obtain a Mercantile License from the Clerk's office located in Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Rd., Villas. Licenses are required for all rental properties in the Township.

Landlord Registration: Any person renting an apartment or house must register the property in the Clerk's office at Township Hall. Mercantile license may also be obtained at this time. Call 886-2005.

Voter Registration: Register at Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Road, Villas. Must bring at least one proof of residency. Must be registered at least 30 days before election in order to vote.

Recreation Department: Information concerning our recreation programs can be obtained by calling 886-7880. Some programs available are:

Various Special Events such as: Annual Coombs-David C. Douglas Sr. Memorial races which will be held on sat. Aug. 17
Annual Horseshoe Festival
Fourth of July Community Fair

Building Inspectors/Zoning/Code Enforcement: All of these offices are now located in Township Hall Annex, next to the main building.

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Villas, a small fishing community along the Delaware bay, sprung up in the 40's and 50's and was for the most part, the summer of many blue collar Philadelphians; North Cape May, also along the Delaware Bay is probably the most populated section of lower township, is also the business district; the original whaling village of Town Bank was once the county seat. Erma between the garden state parkway and rt. 9 is a thriving family community with plenty of open space; Historic Cold Spring, named so because of the fresh cold spring still there today, was a favorite stopping place for the train which brought early visitors to Cape May; and Diamond Beach, the only Atlantic Ocean front resort community, proudly hosts some of the finest resort accommodations found along the Cape.

Claim to Fame:
Lower Township, directly north of Cape May City is the home of the Cape May Lewes Ferry terminal, the Cape May lighthouse is actually situated in lower Township, the Cape May state park, Higbees Beach wildlife refuge and Cape May Bird observatory are all within the bounds of Lower Township. Other famous attractions include Historic Cold Spring village, and the Old Brick Church. The port of cape may, now one of the busiest fishing ports along the east coast is also in Lower Township.

Other Attractions:
Birding is a major draw to Lower Township, more than 400 species of birds can be spotted throughout the area during spring and fall migration time. The World Series of birding is held annually by the Cape May Bird Observatory and the national Audubon Society. Historic Cold Spring Village, a 19th century living farm museum, is open may through October and offers a taste of what life was like in the 19th century. This 22-acre village has more than 24 historic buildings of that period that were relocated from throughout Cape May County. Costumed crafts people wander throughout the village. The Victorian Village is just south of Cape May.

Variety:
More than 40 species of fish are caught in the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Boat liveries and tackle shops are prevalent along the bay side, with a large concentration of charter and party boats near the bridges between Cape May and Diamond Beach areas. Lower Township unlike Cape May City, allows hunting for deer, waterfowl, small game in season. The lush wooded forests situated throughout the Township are a favorite of locals for hunting. Lower Township is a perfect sample of the diversity found throughout the Jersey Cape. From the modern beachfront motels, and condo's, to some of the best camping resorts to the cozy fishing cottages found along the Delaware. Lower Township offers a little of every thing the outdoorsman or vacationer is looking for.

Affordable:
Accommodations range from small inexpensive motels to the plush beachfront resorts of Diamond Beach. Many small mom and pop motels can be found scattered along Route 9, Route 109 and Bayshore Rd. which runs through the heart of Lower Township. These smaller motels, off the beaten path, are often filled with repeat customers, who have found affordable accommodations around quiet and peaceful settings. Lower Township has its share of eateries. Many small restaurants and diners serve family style affordable meals. Dozens of good restaurants can be found throughout Lower Township, from fine seafood to elegant gourmet dining.

Authentic:
A drive through the township offers another sample of its diversity. In addition to the large waterfront homes, there is quaintness about Lower Township that is a refreshing change from the other surrounding resort communities. Large farms and farmhouses dot the landscape, many have a historic past and are the home of many Mayflower decedents. It is said that that only Plymouth, MA has more Mayflower decedents than Lower Township. This is mostly because of the migration of the Howland Family to the whaling village of Town Bank.

Food:
Seafood is naturally the number one attraction of Lower Township. The port of Cape May, process the most Fish/Seafood of all ports along the east coast. Commercial fishing is the second largest industry in Cape May County, with most fish processed from plants in Lower Township. With a large abundance of seafood year round, local seafood restaurants boast of offering some of the best fresh seafood around.

Local Lore:
Generation after generation of many local families still live, work and play in lower township, this gently growing community, still has strong roots to it founding fathers. Visit some of the local restaurants or bait and tackle shops and ask about the local lore, Many areas of the township have hardly changed during the past few decades. The friendly people of lower township are happy to talk about how things were, and often you will see that things are not much different now.

We hope that we have provided you with the information you need to make Lower Township the place to visit today or in the future.