Newark, NJ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Article 4 of Chapter 6:2 requires a permit from the Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness to keep chickens, pigeons, ducks, geese or other fowl, or rabbits, in the City; § 6:2-31 sets the fee at $10 a year and § 6:2-30 has it expire every December 31. Fowl and rabbits can never run at large and must be confined in a suitable house or coop with an enclosed runway under § 6:2-34; § 6:2-35 requires the coop and runway to be cleaned at least weekly, floored with cement or watertight material, and set back at least 20 feet from the doors or windows of any occupied premises.

Section 6:2-36 flatly bans roosters anywhere in the City, and § 6:2-33 bars keeping fowl or rabbits in multi-family houses, multi-family yards, or any dwelling house at all. 10 per animal under § 6:2-13 with a $50 cap per property, and § 6:2-16 bars keeping any of those animals inside a dwelling house. Both livestock and fowl are also barred from running at large in streets and public places under §§ 6:2-20 and 6:2-34, with impoundment as the remedy.