Can you keep chickens in Borough of Bellmawr, NJ?
Yes, with a license from the Borough Clerk. Up to eight hens per license, no roosters, and the borough issues no more than 25 licenses a year.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 8 hens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: annual license plus a class on raising hens (the code lists both $25 and $10 as the fee) |
| Coop setback | Coop and run at least 20 feet from the windows or doors of a neighboring dwelling |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
| Rule adopted | Oct 2024 |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- Single-family homes, twin homes and row homes that meet the criteria are eligible.
- Coop and run must sit in the backyard and may not exceed 120 square feet.
- One license per household, and applicants must show proof of attending a hen-keeping class.
- Eggs may not be sold, and a Hen Advisory Board reviews complaints.
What about ducks?
Unclear. Bellmawr's license program covers backyard hens only and the code does not mention ducks. Ask the borough first.
§§ 137-38 to 137-41: "This article established a permanent program to authorize the residents of the Borough of Bellmawr to keep backyard hens" Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Borough of Bellmawr?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Camden 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 Camden County towns
Compare them side by side in the Camden 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.