NJ chicken rules · Passaic County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Wayne, NJ?
Wayne lets residents keep hens and other fowl if the coop is set 25 feet from any occupied building and its plans are approved by the zoning and construction officials. Roosters are treated as farm animals, allowed only on an established farm.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No set number (coop capped at 100 sq ft) |
| Roosters | Prohibited on residential lots (farm-only, with Health Department permission) |
| Permit | Required (coop plans approved by the Zoning and Construction officials) |
| Coop setback | 25 ft from the doors or windows of any occupied building |
| Lot size | — |
Good to know
- Fowl must be confined in a coop with an enclosed run and may not run at large (§ 68-49).
- Fowl coops are capped at 100 sq ft; movable coops are allowed if shown on the zoning permit.
- Roosters are classed as farm animals, permitted only on an established farm (§ 68-39, 68-40).
Source: Township of Wayne Code, Ch. 68 & Ch. 134 (eCode360), § 68-48, 68-50; 134-62.1.L — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Wayne clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Wayne?
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.
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.