Can you keep chickens in Borough of Riverdale, NJ?
Yes, but only on lots of 1 acre or more, at 3 birds per acre, with a Board of Health permit. Crowing roosters are banned.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 3 per acre |
| Roosters | Crowing roosters prohibited |
| Permit | Required: Board of Health license or permit |
| Coop setback | 25 ft from side and rear lot lines; 100 ft from a neighboring dwelling and 50 ft from the house on the lot |
| Lot size | Min. 1 acre |
Good to know
- Zoning requires 16 sq ft of housing per bird; the health code allows no more than 1 bird per 3 sq ft of coop floor.
- Birds must be confined to coops or runs and may not fly or run at large.
- Droppings must be removed at least weekly, and feed stored in ratproof containers.
- Animals must belong to the residents of the lot, and the outdoor area cannot sit closer to the street than the required front yard.
Source: Borough of Riverdale Code (eCode360), § 168-36, Keeping of animals; Ch. 176, Art. XII, §§ 176-46 to 176-49, Keeping of Poultry, Pigeons and Other Fowl (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Riverdale clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Morris County towns
BoontonButlerChathamChester TownshipBorough of ChesterDenvilleDoverEast HanoverFlorham ParkHanoverHardingJeffersonKinnelonLincoln ParkLong HillMadisonMendham TownshipBorough of MendhamMine HillMontvilleTownship of MorrisMorris PlainsMorristownMount ArlingtonMount OliveMountain LakesNetcongParsippany-Troy HillsPequannockRandolphRockaway TownshipBorough of RockawayRoxburyWashington Township (Morris)Wharton
Building a coop in Borough of Riverdale?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty 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.
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.