Can you keep chickens in Borough of Clayton, NJ?

The rules at a glance

Good to know

• The Board of Health chapter bars fowl on any property outside the Agricultural/Low Density Residential district.
• Even in that district, keeping poultry takes a Planning Board determination as a conditional use.
• The general two-acre minimum for farm animals does not help, because the poultry rule sets its own 50-acre floor.
• The R-A zone repeats that agricultural uses for keeping pigs or poultry are prohibited.
• Where fowl are allowed, coops must sit at least 50 feet from a neighbor's home.

What about ducks?

No, in practice. Clayton names ducks among animals needing at least two acres, and ducks are fowl, which are allowed only in the Agricultural/Low Density Residential district with Planning Board approval (50 acres and a 1,000 foot setback).

§ 116-4; § 116-5; § 88-8B(1)(b): "no person shall keep or permit to be kept any fowl, duck, geese, cattle, swine, goats or horses unless the lot area is a minimum of two acres" Duck coops we build.

We build across Gloucester County

Borough of Clayton doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Gloucester County and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.