Can you keep chickens in Township of Belleville, NJ?
Yes. Belleville allows up to six chickens or other fowl per property, the coop has to be registered with the Health Department for $50 a year, and roosters are banned.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 birds total (rabbits, chickens, pigeons and other fowl combined) |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: coop registration with the Health Department, $50 annual fee |
| Coop setback | Coop at least 30 feet from any dwelling, store or office building and at least 10 feet from any neighboring property line |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Sections 16-8.26 and 16-8.27 were both amended 10-28-2025 by Ord. No. 58-25.
- Birds must be confined in a house or coop with an enclosed runway and may not run or fly at large.
- The coop needs a moisture-impervious, waterproof floor and is subject to Health Department inspection.
- A property survey showing the proposed coop location has to be filed with the Health Department, and the structure must meet the township construction codes.
- Keeping any animals for breeding is prohibited.
Source: Township of Belleville Code (eCode360), § 16-8.27, Regulation for Rabbits, Pigeons and Fowl (roosters: § 16-8.26) (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Belleville clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Belleville?
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.
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.
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.