Can you keep chickens in Borough of Wanaque, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Wanaque requires at least 2 acres to keep any fowl, allows no more than 10 birds, and the coop must be at least 100 feet from the house.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 9 hens (10 birds total) |
| Roosters | No more than 1 |
| Permit | Not specified (annual property inspection required) |
| Coop setback | 100 ft from the principal building |
| Lot size | Min. 2 acres |
Good to know
- The 10-bird cap applies no matter how big the property is. Chicks over the cap must be removed within 60 days of hatching.
- Birds must be in fenced or penned areas or coops with raised floors, not dirt, and may not fly or run at large.
- Any property keeping fowl is subject to an annual inspection.
- Pigeons are not allowed in the borough.
Source: Borough of Wanaque Code (eCode360), § 133-35.15, Fowl (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Wanaque clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Passaic County towns
Building a coop in Borough of Wanaque?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across PassaicCounty 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.