Passaic, NJ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of the City of Passaic § 317-55.B
- Scope
- Prohibited in every zoning district citywide
- Animals covered
- Poultry, pigeons, fur-bearing animals, horses, cows, goats
- Max penalty
- $2,000 fine or 90 days jail/community service
- Enforcer
- Zoning administrative officer, § 317-61
- Separate violations
- Each day of violation is a distinct offense
Summary
Passaic's Zoning Ordinance flatly prohibits keeping or breeding poultry, pigeons, fur-bearing animals, horses, cows, goats and similar livestock in any zoning district. The ban applies citywide across all 13 districts, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, O-R, O-R1A, C-R, C-R HD, C, M-1, M-2, ERA and MA-RA, with no residential-zone carve-out for backyard chickens or other fowl.
B. Livestock. Poultry, pigeons, fur-bearing animals, horses, cows, goats and similar livestock shall not be kept or bred in any district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 317-55, the Zoning Ordinance's "Miscellaneous provisions" section, lists Subsection B, "Livestock," among a short set of citywide restrictions that also cover illegal dumping (Subsection A) and corner sight clearance (Subsection D). " Because Chapter 317 establishes 13 zoning districts under § 317-13, from the low-density R-1 One-Family Residential district through the M-1 and M-2 industrial districts and the ERA and MA-RA redevelopment areas, and this prohibition is written to apply "in any district," it reaches every parcel in the city with no exception for large residential lots, farms, or accessory coops.
Passaic is a dense, built-out industrial city of roughly 71,000 people on the Passaic River, and this section reflects that: there is no permit path, no minimum lot size exemption, and no distinction between a single backyard hen and a commercial livestock operation. The prohibition sits in Article X of the Zoning Ordinance alongside other supplementary use restrictions (temporary trailers, dumping, sight-triangle rules), meaning it is enforced as a zoning-use violation rather than through a separate animal-control chapter. The city's dedicated animal chapter, Chapter 117, Dogs and Other Animals, governs licensing and control of dogs and cats but does not carve out an exception to this zoning-based livestock ban.
Violations & Fines
Because Chapter 317 sets no specific penalty for a § 317-55.B violation, enforcement falls to the Zoning Ordinance's general administration provisions and to the Code's citywide general penalty at § 1-3: up to a $2,000 fine, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or up to 90 days of community service, with each day the animals remain kept constituting a separate violation under § 1-3.B. The administrative officer who enforces the Zoning Ordinance under § 317-61 issues notices of violation under § 317-68 and may pursue action to terminate the violation if it does not cease within the time specified in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Passaic, NJ?
Does Passaic allow any livestock on residential property?
What happens if I keep chickens or livestock in Passaic anyway?
Is there a Passaic ordinance specifically about backyard chickens?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
How Passaic compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Passaic to another location·View the New Jersey animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle chickens & livestock.