NJ chicken rules · Bergen County
Can you keep chickens in City of Hackensack, NJ?
Hackensack's animal code covers only dogs, cats, pigeons, and rabbits. There's no ordinance authorizing backyard chickens and no permit path for them, so keeping poultry isn't provided for. Confirm with the city before relying on this.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
| Hens | Not specified |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | No poultry permit exists (only pigeons and rabbits are licensed) |
| Coop setback | — |
| Lot size | — |
Good to know
- The animals chapter has articles for dogs, pigeons and rabbits, and cats, but none for chickens or poultry.
- In a densely developed city with no affirmative allowance, poultry is effectively not a permitted use.
- No explicit prohibition was located, so verify with the Hackensack Health or Zoning office.
Source: City of Hackensack Code, Ch. 52 Animals (eCode360), Ch. 52 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the City of Hackensack clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in City of Hackensack?
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New to this? Start with how to raise chickens in NJ, or what a coop costs.
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