Can you keep chickens in Borough of Clayton, NJ?
No. Clayton bans fowl everywhere except the Agricultural/Low Density Residential district, and there poultry is a conditional use needing 50 acres and a 1,000 foot setback.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not available on a normal residential lot |
| Coop setback | 1,000 ft from any street or property line in the Agriculture district |
| Lot size | Min. 50 acres |
| Rule adopted | Oct 2021 |
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.
Source: Borough of Clayton Code (eCode360), § 116-5, Keeping of fowl, with § 88-8B(1)(b) (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Clayton clerk or zoning office before you build.
We build across Gloucester County
Borough of Claytondoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout GloucesterCounty 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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