Can you keep chickens in Borough of Hawthorne, NJ?
No. Hawthorne prohibits keeping live poultry borough-wide. Only people who already held a permit as of July 1, 2007 may continue, and no new keeping permits are issued.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted for new keepers |
| Roosters | Not permitted |
| Permit | Only a pre-2007 permit may be renewed; no new permits available |
| Coop setback | For grandfathered keeping, no structure or run within 75 ft of any building, church, school, or public building |
| Lot size | Not specified |
| Ducks | Not allowed (same rule as chickens) |
Good to know
- "Live poultry" is defined to include fowl, chickens, turkeys, and pigeons; household-pet birds are excluded.
- Live poultry may not be kept in any occupied building or run at large.
- Violations carry fines up to $2,000 and up to 90 days; each day is a separate offense.
What about ducks?
Ducks fall under the same ban as chickens. Hawthorne prohibits keeping any live poultry, which it defines to include all fowls, except for permits held since before July 1, 2007.
§ 136-24A; §§ 136-25, 136-28: "LIVE POULTRY All manner of domestic and wild game, and shall include fowls, chickens, turkeys and pigeons, but shall not mean or include birds which are household pets." Duck coops we build.
We build across Passaic County
Borough of Hawthorne doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Passaic 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 Passaic County towns
Compare them side by side in the Passaic 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.