Can you keep chickens in Borough of Rutherford, NJ?
No. Rutherford's sanitary code bans keeping poultry or fowl of any kind. The only exceptions are pets kept indoors and school lab animals.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not available |
| Coop setback | Not applicable |
| Lot size | Not applicable |
Good to know
- § 89-21 bans poultry and fowl of any kind, along with swine, sheep, cattle, pigeons and rabbits.
- Exceptions in § 89-22 cover poultry kept indoors as household pets and animals kept by a school under lab control. Neither allows a backyard flock.
- Live-poultry dealers need a special Board of Health permit (§ 89-24).
- No pending new law mentions poultry (checked 2026-09).
Source: Borough of Rutherford Code (eCode360), § 89-21, Keeping of animals; prohibitions (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Rutherford clerk or zoning office before you build.
We build across Bergen County
Borough of Rutherforddoesn'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.