Can you keep chickens in Township of Clark, NJ?
No. Clark prohibits keeping chickens and other farm animals in every zone, except residents who had chickens registered with the Health Department before the 2021 ordinance.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted (grandfathered keepers: up to 6) |
| Roosters | Not permitted |
| Permit | No permit path for new keepers |
| Coop setback | Grandfathered coops must be at least 3 ft from all property lines |
| Lot size | Not specified |
| Ducks | Not allowed (same rule as chickens) |
Good to know
- The farm-animals article strictly prohibits raising or keeping chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other fowl in all zones.
- Pigeons are separately prohibited.
- Grandfathered keepers may not sell eggs; the exemption ends when the registered birds die.
What about ducks?
No. Clark's farm-animal ban names ducks along with chickens in every zone, with only an exemption for animals registered before the 2021 ordinance.
§§ 84-32, 84-33, 84-35: "Farm Animals are hereby defined to include but not be limited to chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys, quail or other fowl" Duck coops we build.
We build across Union County
Township of Clark doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Union County and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
Chicken rules in nearby Union County towns
Compare them side by side in the Union County table.
Ready to keep your flock safe?
Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.