Bergen County does not regulate backyard chickens or livestock at the county level. Each of the 70 municipalities sets its own rules through local zoning and animal control ordinances, with substantial variation across towns.
Keeping chickens, roosters, goats, or other livestock in Bergen County is governed entirely by municipal ordinance, not county code. Some towns like Ridgewood and Teaneck permit limited backyard hens with permits, lot-size minimums, and coop setbacks, while others such as Fort Lee and Cliffside Park prohibit poultry outright in residential zones. Roosters are widely banned due to noise. New Jersey's Right to Farm Act (N.J.S.A. 4:1C-1) protects commercial farms but does not override local restrictions on hobby flocks. Residents must consult their borough or township clerk before acquiring birds or livestock.
Municipal fines typically range $100 to $1,250 per offense, with each day a separate violation. Animals may be seized.
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack City Code Chapter 112 (Noise), adopted by Ordinance No. 07-2018 on April 10, 2018, restricts construction noise audible off-property to 7:00 AM-6:...
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack requires all swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Requirements follow the New J...
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack regulates retaining walls through building and zoning codes. Walls over 4 feet typically require engineered design and a building permit. Walls mu...
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack permits common fence materials including wood, vinyl, ornamental metal, and chain link. Barbed wire and electrified fences are prohibited in resid...
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack fences must be installed on the owner's property, not on the property line, unless neighbors have a written shared agreement. The finished side ty...
Hackensack, NJ
Hackensack requires a zoning permit and building permit for most new fences and replacements. Applications go through the Building Department, including a su...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bergen County.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle chickens & livestock.
See how Hackensack's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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