Can you keep chickens in City of Cape May, NJ?
Unclear. The City of Cape May code does not mention chickens, poultry or fowl anywhere, and its residential zones allow only a short list of named accessory uses, so ask the zoning office first.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
| Hens | Not specified |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- Chapter 145, Animals, covers dogs, kennels, pet waste, feeding wild animals and the dog park only.
- Chapter 345, Public Health Nuisances, and Chapter 373, Peace and Good Order, contain no poultry rule.
- Chapter 525, Zoning, has no poultry, fowl or livestock provision in the residential district, supplemental or special-use articles.
- The residential zones say only the listed accessory uses may be permitted, and keeping animals is not listed.
Source: City of Cape May Code (eCode360), Ch. 145, Animals (no poultry provision); Ch. 525, Zoning, Art. IV (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the City of Cape May clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cape May County towns
Building a coop in City of Cape May?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Cape MayCounty 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.