Can you keep chickens in Borough of Oakland, NJ?
Yes, on a lot of at least 1 acre. Oakland's zoning allows chickens in residential zones for personal use with no roosters and a rear-yard coop, but a separate section still limits poultry to residential lots of 1 acre or more.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No numeric limit; coop needs 3 sq ft per bird (5 sq ft per bird in a fenced run) |
| Roosters | Not allowed |
| Permit | None stated; renters need the owner's written permission |
| Coop setback | Coop and run in the rear yard only, meeting accessory-structure setbacks (Schedules B and C) |
| Lot size | Minimum 1 acre (§ 59-59A) |
| Rule adopted | May 2021 |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- § 59-49B(7), added in 2021, allows chickens in residential zones with no lot-size minimum of its own.
- § 59-59A still prohibits poultry except on residential lots of at least 1 acre for personal use; we apply this stricter rule.
- No selling chickens or eggs, and birds may not roam unless in a fenced area.
- Droppings must be cleaned out at least weekly.
What about ducks?
Probably only on 1 acre or more. Oakland's newer backyard allowance is for chickens only; other poultry is limited to residential lots of at least an acre, but poultry isn't defined, so confirm with the borough.
§§ 59-49B(7), 59-59A: "the housing and keeping of cattle and poultry shall be permitted in a residential zone for personal use only, provided that:(1) The lot upon which they are to be raised or kept has a minimum area of one acre" Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Borough of Oakland?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Bergen County and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
In an HOA? The town allowing hens is not the same as your association allowing them. What an HOA can and cannot stop.
New to this? Start with how to raise chickens in NJ, or what a coop costs.
Chicken rules in nearby Bergen County towns
Compare them side by side in the Bergen 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.