Can you keep chickens in Borough of Little Ferry, NJ?
No, not on a normal residential lot. Little Ferry's Board of Health code names chickens and poultry as excluded animals unless the property is at least 5 acres and zoned for agricultural use.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Not permitted |
| Permit | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | Min. 5 acres, and the land must be zoned for agricultural use |
Good to know
- The excluded list names chickens, poultry, guinea hens, ducks and turkeys along with goats, swine, horses and cattle.
- Animals already kept when the 1981 ordinance passed were grandfathered only if registered with the Board of Health Secretary within 30 days.
- Enforcement runs through the Health Officer, Police Department and Construction Official.
- Penalties reach $500 or 90 days in the county jail.
Source: Borough of Little Ferry Code, Board of Health (eCode360), Ch. BH1, § BH1-2, Keeping of certain animals prohibited (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Little Ferry clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Bergen County towns
BergenfieldBogotaCliffside ParkClosterCresskillDumontEast RutherfordEdgewaterElmwood ParkEmersonEnglewoodFair LawnFairviewFort LeeFranklin LakesGarfieldGlen RockHackensackHasbrouck HeightsHillsdaleLeoniaLodiLyndhurstMahwahMaywoodMontvaleNew MilfordNorth ArlingtonOaklandOradellPalisades ParkParamusPark RidgeRamseyRidgefieldRidgefield ParkRidgewoodRiver EdgeRiver ValeRutherfordSaddle BrookSaddle RiverTeaneckTenaflyUpper Saddle RiverWaldwickWallingtonWashingtonWestwoodWood-RidgeWoodcliff LakeWyckoff
We build across Bergen County
Borough of Little Ferrydoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout BergenCounty and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
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Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.