NJ chicken rules · Somerset County
Can you keep chickens in Bernards Township, NJ?
In Bernards (Basking Ridge), chickens are treated as farm livestock and may only be kept on lots of 2 acres or more, with the shelter set back at least 100 feet from any property or street line. There's no small-lot backyard allowance, and poultry farms require at least 50 acres.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No numeric cap (the 2-acre minimum gates it) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | No chicken-specific permit (conditional-use / zoning) |
| Coop setback | 100 ft from any property or street line (shelter and fenced area) |
| Lot size | Minimum 2 acres; poultry farms need 50+ acres |
Good to know
- There's no 'backyard chicken' provision in the code — chickens fall under 'farm livestock.'
- On lots with more than 500 ft of frontage, the fenced-area setback drops to 50 ft.
Source: Bernards Township Land Development Code (eCode360), Ch. 21, § 21-12.3.e — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Bernards Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Bernards Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across SomersetCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
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.