NJ chicken rules · Hudson County
Can you keep chickens in City of Jersey City, NJ?
Jersey City lets residents keep up to 50 chickens or other poultry with a license, as long as the coop stays at least 25 feet from anyone else's home.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 50 poultry total |
| Roosters | Not specified (no rooster ban; noise rules apply) |
| Permit | Required (annual license; expires April 30) |
| Coop setback | 25 ft from any other person's home or place of assembly |
| Lot size | — |
Good to know
- Keeping pigeons also requires the written consent of most neighbors on the block (§ 90-5).
- Coops must be dry, ventilated, whitewashed, and cleaned weekly to twice weekly (§ 90-8).
- A license can be revoked if the coop becomes a nuisance.
Source: Jersey City Code, Ch. 90, Art. II (Municode), § 90-6 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the City of Jersey City clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in City of Jersey City?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across HudsonCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
New to this? Start with how to raise chickens in NJ, or what a coop costs.
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.