Can you keep backyard chickens in New Jersey?
New Jersey municipalities may make public health and safety ordinances and zone land use (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, 40:55D-62), so check yours. Right to Farm Act protection is for commercial farms, not a typical backyard flock.
Read from 2 official sources34 passages quotedChecked October 24, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- Every municipality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate animals running at large, regulate or prohibit keeping cattle, goats or swine anywhere in town, and adopt other ordinances, not contrary to state or federal law, that it considers necessary for public health, safety and welfare. Its governing body may also zone the uses of land and buildings.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zone land use, so check with it; its clause on keeping animals names cattle, goats and swine, not poultry. This page names the state law, not your municipality's own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
Registration: not established in the state sources we read.
The law's own words are quoted under state rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of New Jersey's state law, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the national or state scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Applies to: New Jersey’s agriculture statutes (Title 4 of the Revised Statutes) and the Department of Agriculture’s avian influenza page, as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether New Jersey requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No poultry-keeper registration duty was found in the statutes checked, but the state’s administrative code was not searched, so this is not proof that none exists.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
Check the official current-status pageOrders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-24
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Applies to: Quarantine powers of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture over contagious and infectious diseases of animals and poultry, under N.J.S.A. 4:5-1 and 4:5-6.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not in terms require birds to be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any quarantine or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- The State Board of Agriculture may determine that contagious and infectious diseases exist in animals or poultry, declare them epidemic, and establish and enforce general or local quarantine.
- When an infectious or contagious disease exists or is suspected in a herd or locality, the department may investigate and, if it considers it advisable, quarantine the animals, take precautions for exposed animals and enforce its regulations on the disease.
- As checked on 24 October 2026, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s avian influenza page said all poultry owners, commercial or backyard, must report sick birds or unexplained deaths to state or federal officials immediately; for small flocks that can mean one death a day for two days in a row. Contact the Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400 or state.veterinarian@ag.nj.gov. The department’s response plan includes increased surveillance in designated quarantine areas.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
The State Board of Agriculture may:
N.J.S.A. 4:5-1, opening · Checked
a. Determine the existence of contagious and infectious diseases in animals or poultry and declare the same to be epidemic;
N.J.S.A. 4:5-1(a) · Checked
b. Establish and enforce general or local quarantine;
N.J.S.A. 4:5-1(b) · Checked
(UPDATED THROUGH P.L.2026, c.50, and J.R.1)
STATUTES.TXT file header · Checked
Upon receiving information that an infectious or contagious disease exists or is suspected to exist in any herd or in any locality, the department may investigate or cause an investigation to be made.
N.J.S.A. 4:5-6, first sentence · Checked
If the department deems it to be advisable it may quarantine such animals, take such precautionary measures with relation to other animals exposed to the disease as shall be deemed necessary, and enforce such regulations in relation to the disease as it may adopt.
N.J.S.A. 4:5-6, second sentence · Checked
All poultry owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, need to report sick or unexplained bird deaths to State/Federal officials immediately. For small flocks, this can include deaths of one bird per day for two days in a row.
NJDA Avian Influenza page, "Where to report sick birds or unexplained deaths" · Checked
New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health 609-671-6400 or state.veterinarian@ag.nj.gov
The plan includes provisions for limiting the spread of the disease through increased biosecurity including limiting the traffic to and from the infected premises, increased surveillance in designated quarantine areas,
NJDA Avian Influenza page, emergency response plan paragraph · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Applies to: Any living animal or creature, including chickens, under New Jersey’s animal-cruelty article, N.J.S.A. 4:22-15 to 4:22-17.
Outside this finding's scope
- The article does not prohibit or interfere with raising, keeping, caring for, treating, marketing or selling domestic livestock, which includes poultry and fowl, in line with the humane standards the State Board of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture adopt; keeping livestock under those standards is presumed not to be cruelty. Those standards were not checked here.
- The article also does not interfere with properly conducted authorized scientific experiments, killing by order of a constituted state authority, or lawful hunting and fishing.
- This finding is not a complete welfare code and sets no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- If you own or are charged with the care of an animal, you must provide necessary care: enough food for normal growth or to maintain body weight, adequate access to water, access to adequate protection from the weather, and veterinary care to relieve suffering and maintain health.
- Abusing or needlessly killing an animal, or failing to give it necessary care is a disorderly persons offense.
- For a first minor or incidental violation involving domestic livestock, a written warning must come before any citation or arrest.
The official wording
"Animal" or "creature" includes the whole brute creation.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-15, "Animal" or "creature" · Checked
"Necessary care" means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal, and includes, but is not limited to: food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight;
adequate access to water in sufficient quantity and quality to satisfy the animal's needs; access to adequate protection from the weather; and veterinary care to alleviate suffering and maintain health.
(1) Overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overwork, abuse, or needlessly kill a living animal or creature;
N.J.S.A. 4:22-17(a)(1) · Checked
(4) Fail, as the owner or as a person otherwise charged with the care of a living animal or creature, to provide the living animal or creature with necessary care.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-17(a)(4) · Checked
A person who violates subsection a. of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-17(b)(1), first sentence · Checked
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prohibit or interfere with:
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16, opening · Checked
e. The raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock in accordance with the standards developed and adopted therefor pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1); and
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16(e) · Checked
"domestic livestock" means cattle, horses, donkeys, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, fowl, and any other domesticated animal
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16.1(c), opening · Checked
there shall exist a presumption that the raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock in accordance with the standards developed and adopted therefor pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall not constitute a violation of any provision of this title involving alleged cruelty to, or inhumane care or treatment of, domestic livestock;
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16.1(b)(1) · Checked
b. The killing or disposing of an animal or creature by virtue of the order of a constituted authority of the State;
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16(b) · Checked
a. Properly conducted scientific experiments performed under the authority of the Department of Health and Senior Services or the United States Department of Agriculture.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16(a), first sentence · Checked
c. The shooting or taking of game or game fish in such manner and at such times as is allowed or provided by the laws of this State;
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16(c) · Checked
(1) standards for the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock; and (2) rules and regulations governing the enforcement of those standards.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16.1(a), closing · Checked
no person may be cited or arrested for a first offense involving a minor or incidental violation, as defined by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, of any provision of this title involving alleged cruelty to, or inhumane care or treatment of, domestic livestock, unless that person has first been issued a written warning.
N.J.S.A. 4:22-16.1(b)(2) · Checked
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Applies to: New Jersey municipalities’ ordinance and zoning powers and the Right to Farm Act’s protections for commercial farms.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zone land use, so check with it; its clause on keeping animals names cattle, goats and swine, not poultry. This page names the state law, not your municipality's own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
- The Right to Farm Act’s permitted-activity protection in N.J.S.A. 4:1C-9 applies to commercial farms: generally a farm management unit of five acres or more producing at least $2,500 a year and meeting the eligibility criteria for differential property taxation, or under five acres producing at least $50,000 a year and otherwise meeting those criteria, so it does not cover a typical backyard flock.
What the checked sources say
- Every municipality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate animals running at large, regulate or prohibit keeping cattle, goats or swine anywhere in town, and adopt other ordinances, not contrary to state or federal law, that it considers necessary for public health, safety and welfare. Its governing body may also zone the uses of land and buildings.
- The owner or operator of a commercial farm that meets the conditions of N.J.S.A. 4:1C-9, including posing no direct threat to public health and safety, may produce livestock and poultry notwithstanding contrary municipal or county ordinances.
The official wording
The governing body of every municipality may make, amend, repeal and enforce ordinances to:
N.J.S.A. 40:48-1, opening · Checked
to prohibit or regulate the running at large of horses, cattle, dogs, swine, goats and other animals,
N.J.S.A. 40:48-1(11), first clause · Checked
to regulate or prohibit the keeping of cattle, goats or swine in any part of the municipality;
N.J.S.A. 40:48-1(11), later clause · Checked
Any municipality may make, amend, repeal and enforce such other ordinances, regulations, rules and by-laws not contrary to the laws of this state or of the United States, as it may deem necessary and proper for the good government, order and protection of persons and property, and for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare
N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, opening · Checked
The governing body may adopt or amend a zoning ordinance relating to the nature and extent of the uses of land and of buildings and structures thereon.
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62(a), first sentence · Checked
Notwithstanding the provisions of any municipal or county ordinance, resolution, or regulation to the contrary, the owner or operator of a commercial farm,
N.J.S.A. 4:1C-9, opening · Checked
and which does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety may:
a. Produce agricultural and horticultural crops, trees and forest products, livestock, and poultry and other commodities
N.J.S.A. 4:1C-9(a), opening · Checked
"Commercial farm" means (1) a farm management unit of no less than five acres producing agricultural or horticultural products worth $2,500 or more annually and satisfying the eligibility criteria for differential property taxation
N.J.S.A. 4:1C-3, "Commercial farm" (1) · Checked
(2) a farm management unit less than five acres, producing agricultural or horticultural products worth $50,000 or more annually and otherwise satisfying the eligibility criteria for differential property taxation pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964,"
N.J.S.A. 4:1C-3, "Commercial farm" (2) · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for New Jersey has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in New Jersey?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: New Jersey’s agriculture statutes (Title 4 of the Revised Statutes) and the Department of Agriculture’s avian influenza page, as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether New Jersey requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No poultry-keeper registration duty was found in the statutes checked, but the state’s administrative code was not searched, so this is not proof that none exists.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in New Jersey?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Every municipality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate animals running at large, regulate or prohibit keeping cattle, goats or swine anywhere in town, and adopt other ordinances, not contrary to state or federal law, that it considers necessary for public health, safety and welfare. Its governing body may also zone the uses of land and buildings. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zone land use, so check with it; its clause on keeping animals names cattle, goats and swine, not poultry. This page names the state law, not your municipality's own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in New Jersey?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for New Jersey has the latest we've checked.
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