NJ chicken rules · Passaic County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Little Falls, NJ?
Little Falls allows backyard hens (no roosters) with a $25 annual permit, kept in a backyard coop set back at least 5 feet from property lines and the home.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated cap; "chicken" is defined as female chickens only |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required ($25/year via the Health Officer, one per property, renewed each December) |
| Coop setback | No coop or enclosure within 5 ft of any property line or within 5 ft of the residence; backyard only |
| Lot size | Single-family or two-family dwelling properties only |
Good to know
- Chicken enclosure capped at 40 sq ft; coop and fence no more than 6 ft high; no free-ranging.
- No slaughtering, and selling eggs is prohibited.
- A very recent ordinance (adopted October 2025), so older hobby-site summaries are unreliable.
Source: Township of Little Falls Code, Ch. 19 Animals, Art. VII (eCode360), §§ 19-70 to 19-76 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Little Falls clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Little Falls?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across PassaicCounty 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.