NJ chicken rules · Union County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Union, NJ?
Union Township has no ordinance allowing backyard chickens. Its zoning prohibits any use not expressly permitted, and the animal code only restricts keeping fowl outdoors overnight, so confirm with the township.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
| Hens | Not specified |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | No poultry permit exists |
| Coop setback | — |
| Lot size | — |
Good to know
- Zoning states all uses not expressly permitted are prohibited, and poultry-keeping is not an enumerated use.
- The animal code only bars sheltering fowl outdoors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- This is the Union County township, not Union Township in Hunterdon or Union City in Hudson.
Source: Township of Union (Union Co.) Code, Ch. 170 Zoning & Ch. 208 (eCode360), § 170-1209; § 208-17C — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Union clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Union?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across UnionCounty 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.