Can you keep chickens in Borough of Califon, NJ?
Yes, with a zoning permit. Califon allows up to 6 chickens on a lot of up to 1 acre, 10 on 1 to 3 acres and 15 on 3 to 5 acres, and bans roosters on lots under 5 acres.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 (lots to 1 acre), 10 (1 to 3 acres), 15 (3 to 5 acres) |
| Roosters | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres |
| Permit | Required: zoning permit, with a survey showing the coop |
| Coop setback | Rear yard, inside the building envelope; at least 25 ft from any dwelling on an adjoining lot |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- Coop must give at least 2 sq ft per adult bird, plus a run of at least 4 sq ft per bird.
- Chickens must stay in the coop or fenced run at all times, and the run needs overhead netting.
- Coop and run must sit closer to your own house than to any neighbor's house.
- Droppings collected at least weekly and kept, like feed, in a covered metal container.
What about ducks?
Unclear. Califon's backyard allowance covers chickens only; other poultry shelters must sit 100 feet from every property line, but ducks aren't mentioned, so confirm with the borough.
§ 16.12.010M.4; § 16.12.030E.3: "No poultry or livestock shelter (excepting dog runs or other shelters for household pets or chicken shelters as provided herein) shall be erected, used or located closer than one hundred (100) feet to any property line." Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Borough of Califon?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Hunterdon 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 Hunterdon County towns
Compare them side by side in the Hunterdon 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.