NJ chicken rules · Monmouth County
Can you keep chickens in Colts Neck Township, NJ?
Largely no. Colts Neck defines chickens as 'farm animals' and only permits them in its two agricultural districts (A-1 and AG), on farms of at least 5 acres. On an ordinary residential lot, keeping chickens is not permitted. Horses and ponies are the township-wide exception, not fowl.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not allowed on ordinary residential lots; only in the A-1/AG districts |
| Roosters | Not separately addressed |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Livestock shelter 100 ft from any dwelling or lot line; commercial poultry 500 ft |
| Lot size | 'Farm' = 5+ acres; chickens confined to A-1/AG districts |
Good to know
- Online claims that Colts Neck 'permits hens with lot-size limits' are wrong — the code confines chickens to the two agricultural districts.
- Horses and ponies are the exception allowed township-wide.
Source: Colts Neck Land Use & Development Ordinance (eCode360), Part 3, Common to All Districts; Art. III Terminology — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Colts Neck Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
We build across Monmouth County
Colts Neck Townshipdoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout MonmouthCounty 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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