NJ chicken rules · Essex County
Can you keep chickens in Township of West Orange, NJ?
West Orange permits up to 3 fowl per acre with a Health Department license, and any coop must sit at least 50 feet from both the house and every lot line. A few pet birds, 3 or fewer, don't need a license.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 3 fowl per acre |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Required (Health Department; 3 or fewer pet birds exempt) |
| Coop setback | 50 ft from the main building and from every lot line |
| Lot size | No minimum stated (density capped at 3 fowl per acre) |
Good to know
- Keeping 3 or fewer birds as pets is exempt from the license (§ 10-12.2).
- Facilities must be rat-proofed and kept clean and sanitary.
- The 2-acre minimum applies to larger livestock, not to fowl.
Source: Township of West Orange Code, Ch. 10 (eCode360), § 10-12.3, 10-12.4 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of West Orange clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of West Orange?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across EssexCounty 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.
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