Keeping Chickens in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York

We’ve compiled a list of major cities and their chicken keeping laws in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York. Laws are always subject to change, so be sure to visit your city’s website or zoning office to obtain the most up to date information. And, even if you don’t live within city limits, you may be subject to county laws. If you don’t see your city or county of residence listed, contact your appropriate office to verify if there are laws that apply to keeping chickens.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire allows chickens in these cities, but their rules vary, and some are not clear from online resources. Call your city’s office to get the most recent guidelines for keeping chickens in New Hampshire.

• Claremont - official guidelines aren’t expressly clear; roosters are likely not permitted; permit may be required
• Concord - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit may be required
• Dover - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit may be required
• Keene - up to 6 chickens; roosters may be permitted on lots 5 acres or larger
• Laconia - no limit specified for hens; no roosters; some districts may require a permit
• Lebanon - up to 2 hens per acre; no roosters in certain districts; permit required
• Manchester - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Nashua - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Rochester - up to 10 hens; no roosters; permit may be required

The large Eglu Cube chicken coop makes keeping up to 10 chickens easier than ever.

New Jersey

The state of New Jersey has a wide range of laws regarding chickens. From no chickens within city limits, to up to 50 hens allowed, their guidelines are diverse. Most cities also require a permit before obtaining chickens.

• Bayonne - no chickens allowed
• Camden - no chickens allowed
• Clifton - no official limit on hens; no roosters; permit required
• East Orange - chickens aren’t specified in the city code — contact the city for more information
• Elizabeth - up to 25 hens; no roosters; permit may be required
• Jersey City - up to 50 chickens depending on lot size; permit required
• Newark - up to 25 hens; no roosters; permit and neighbors’ written consent required
• Passaic - no official limit on hens; no roosters; permit required
• Paterson - no chickens allowed
• Trenton - no official limit on hens; no roosters; permit required

New Mexico

New Mexico is a very chicken-friendly state within city limits, with generous flock size allowances. Most cities don’t allow mature roosters, and permits may be required before obtaining chickens.

• Alamogordo - up to 25 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit may be required
• Albuquerque - up to 15 chickens; permit required
• Carlsbad - up to 24 hens depending on lot size; no roosters in residential zones; permit may be required
• Clovis - up to 25 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Farmington - limit varies depending on lot size; permit required for any additional fow
• Hobbs - up to 40 free-range and 20 penned chickens on lots of at least half an acre; no roosters; permit required
• Las Cruces - up to 6 hens on property not zoned for livestock, or up to 100 hens for livestock zoned lots; no roosters; permit required when property is not zoned for livestock
• Santa Fe - unclear if chickens can be kept within city limits; likely no roosters; permit may be required
• Rio Rancho - up to 7 hens; no roosters; permit may be required
• Roswell - up to 4 hens on lots 0.4 acres or less, up to 10 hens on lots up to 1 acre, and 25 hens per acre on lots larger than 1 acre; no roosters; permit may be required

Omlet’s supersized Eglu Pro chicken coop is ideal for larger flocks!

New York

Several cities in New York allow chickens, and several do not. Interestingly, New York City allows chickens, as long as residents obtain a permit first. Most cities in New York require permits.

• Albany - up to 6 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
• Buffalo - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Mount Vernon - limit not specified for hens; no roosters; permit may be required
• New Rochelle - hens allowed on lots 2 acres or larger with no official limit; no roosters; permit required
• New York City - no official limit on hens; no roosters; permit required
• Rochester - no official limit on hens; no roosters; permit required
• Schenectady - no chickens allowed
• Syracuse - no chickens allowed
• Utica - no chickens allowed
• Yonkers - not expressly permitted

Omlet and your flock

With sanitary chicken coops in alignment with state recommendations, we’ve got the setups you need to have a thriving backyard flock in compliance with your city. Our mobile chicken coops and walk in chicken runs make it easy to create your hen’s home within the parameters set forth in your area.