Jersey City, NJ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Chapter 90, Article II, Birds and Poultry, adopted in 1971 and readopted in 1978, is the code's operative provision on keeping farm-type animals in residential Jersey City. § 90-5 requires anyone who wants to keep pigeons to first file with the Health Officer the written consent of a majority of occupants of the premises 'in the block and square' where the birds will be kept. § 90-6 sets the core numeric standard: no pigeons, chickens or other poultry may be kept within 25 feet of any structure owned by another person and used for human habitation, occupation or assembly, and 'in no case shall any person or persons be permitted to keep more than 50 chickens, ducks or other poultry, including pigeons', though homing pigeons are exempt from the 25-foot flight/stray restriction. § 90-7 requires an annual license from the license-issuing authority before keeping any pigeons, chickens or other poultry, with the fee set in Chapter 160 and the license expiring every April 30. § 90-8 imposes detailed housing standards for coops: dry, ventilated, whitewashed or painted interiors; weekly cleaning between November and May and twice-weekly the rest of the year (more often if needed, with disinfection); removable, cleaned perches and nests; clean drinking fountains; and an odor-free yard. § 90-9 lets the city revoke the license if those conditions aren't met, though the housing rules don't apply to poultry confined in coops at licensed markets or stores for sale, slaughter and plucking. § 90-10 lets the Health Officer revoke a license if neighborhood conditions have changed enough that continued poultry-keeping would be a nuisance.