NJ chicken rules · Bergen County
Can you keep chickens in Borough of Upper Saddle River, NJ?
Upper Saddle River treats chickens as ordinary household pets, so no permit is needed, but the household is capped at four pets total (chickens count), roosters are excluded, and coops must sit 35 feet (R-1) or 15 feet (R-2) off every property line in the rear yard.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Counted toward a 4-pet household total |
| Roosters | Prohibited (excluded from the household-pet definition) |
| Permit | Not required (special permission only for an undersized coop) |
| Coop setback | 35 ft from property lines in R-1; 15 ft in R-2; rear yard only |
| Lot size | — |
Good to know
- Chickens are a permitted household pet; ducks, geese, roosters, turkeys, goats, and sheep are not.
- The four-pet cap is combined across all household pets, including dogs and cats.
- Breeding or keeping for commercial purposes is prohibited, and coops are barred from front yards.
Source: Borough of Upper Saddle River Code, Ch. 164 (eCode360), § 164-1, 164-2, 164-4 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Upper Saddle River clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Upper Saddle River?
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