Can you keep chickens in Township of Aberdeen, NJ?
Yes, with a zoning permit and a $25 yearly license. Aberdeen allows hens on single-family lots under 5 acres, roughly one hen per 1,000 sq ft of lot and never more than 12, with no roosters and an in-person poultry class required.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | About 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot (2 at 2,000 sq ft), max 12 |
| Roosters | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres |
| Permit | Zoning permit plus $25 annual license; proof of an in-person poultry class |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only; at least 7 ft from lot lines and 30 ft from a neighbor's house |
| Lot size | 2,000 sq ft for 2 hens |
| Rule adopted | June 2022 |
| Ducks | Not allowed |
Good to know
- Renters need the owner's written permission; the permit ends when the owner or tenant changes.
- Coop at least 3 sq ft per bird plus an attached, fully enclosed run of 5 sq ft per bird, fenced or netted overhead.
- No keeping chickens for meat or sale, and no slaughtering on the property.
What about ducks?
Ducks are not allowed on ordinary residential lots in Aberdeen. The township bans keeping livestock, which includes fowl, except on a farm; the 2022 backyard rule permits only female chickens.
§ 25-2.1; § 25-5.28: "LIVESTOCK shall mean domestic animals and fowl ... The raising and keeping of livestock on other than a farm as defined herein is prohibited in all districts." Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Township of Aberdeen?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Monmouth County 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.
Chicken rules in nearby Monmouth County towns
Compare them side by side in the Monmouth County table.
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.