Can you keep chickens in Borough of Chatham, NJ?
No. The Borough of Chatham bans keeping chickens, roosters, ducks, geese or any other fowl.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Coop setback | Not applicable |
| Lot size | Not specified |
| Rule adopted | Dec 2008 |
Good to know
- Board of Health ordinance BOH 08-01, adopted December 11, 2008.
- Exemptions cover only canaries, parakeets, parrots, macaws and other song birds, temporary Board of Education waivers of up to six months, and businesses that sell live fowl with a Health Department permit.
- Fines run up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail or community service, and each day is a separate offense.
Source: Borough of Chatham Code (eCode360), § 286-2, Keeping of live chickens and roosters prohibited (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Chatham 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 BoontonTownship of BoontonButlerTownship 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
We build across Morris County
Borough of Chathamdoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout MorrisCounty and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
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Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.