Can you keep chickens in Township of Boonton, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Township of Boonton zoning allows fowl on lots of at least 20,000 sq ft in the R-20 zone, and more in other zones (up to 81,000 sq ft in R-81 and R-261), penned at least 50 feet from side and rear lines.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Board of Health special permit to keep more than two pet animals on under 5 acres; unclear whether hens count |
| Coop setback | Enclosure at least 50 ft from side and rear property lines; not in the front yard |
| Lot size | Min. 0.46 acres (R-20 zone); 0.69 in R-30, 0.92 in R-40, 1.86 in R-81 and R-261 |
Good to know
- The lot-size rules for "pet animals or fowl" sit in Note 5 of the zoning Schedule D of permitted uses.
- Chickens listed as pastoral farm animals and fowl need at least 5 acres and must be fenced or housed at least 50 feet from side and rear lines.
- Board of Health Chapter 160 caps pet animals at two on premises under 5 acres without a special permit; it does not define pet animals or mention poultry.
- No business use is allowed, and the code does not address roosters.
Source: Township of Boonton Code (eCode360), Ch. 102 Land Use, Schedule D (Permitted Uses), Notes 5 and 8; § 160-1 (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Boonton clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Morris County towns
Compare them side by side in the Morris County table.
Town of BoontonButlerTownship of ChathamBorough of ChathamChester TownshipBorough of ChesterDenvilleDoverEast HanoverFlorham ParkHanoverHardingJeffersonKinnelonLincoln ParkLong HillMadisonMendham TownshipBorough of MendhamMine HillMontvilleTownship of MorrisMorris PlainsMorristownMount ArlingtonMount OliveMountain LakesNetcongParsippany-Troy HillsPequannockRandolphRiverdaleRockaway TownshipBorough of RockawayRoxburyVictory GardensWashington Township (Morris)Wharton
Building a coop in Township of Boonton?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty 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.