NJ chicken rules · Hunterdon County
Backyard chicken rules in Hunterdon County, NJ
Every town in Hunterdon County sets its own rule. Of the 26 we have read, 23 allow backyard hens outright or with conditions, 0 ban them, and 3 have no clear rule in the code. Each town page cites the ordinance it comes from.
| Town | Hens | Roosters | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township of Alexandria | Up to 50 fowl per acre on lots under 10 acres | Not specified | Zoning permit for the use generally; no poultry-specific permit |
| Township of Bethlehem | No numeric cap | Not specified | No poultry-specific permit (construction and zoning permits apply to structures) |
| Borough of Bloomsbury | Up to 6 (lots to 1 acre), 10 (1 to 3 acres), 15 (3 to 5 acres) | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres | Required: zoning permit, with a sketch or survey of the coop |
| Borough of Califon | Up to 6 (lots to 1 acre), 10 (1 to 3 acres), 15 (3 to 5 acres) | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres | Required: zoning permit, with a survey showing the coop |
| Town of Clinton | No numeric limit | Not specified | Annual Board of Health permit, expires December 31, revocable at will |
| Clinton Township | ~25 birds per acre (animal-unit system) | Allowed (not distinguished) | Not specified (permitted principal use) |
| Delaware Township | No numeric limit found | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of East Amwell | No numeric limit (accessory agricultural use) | Not restricted | None specified for keeping |
| Borough of Flemington | Up to 6 | Prohibited | None specified |
| Township of Franklin | 25 on 65,340 sq ft; pro rata up to 150 on 130,680 sq ft; then up to 300 per acre | Not specified | None stated for small flocks |
| Borough of Frenchtown | No stated limit (farm use on 5+ acres) | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Glen Gardner | Up to 8 on lots up to 1 acre; up to 24 on larger lots | Allowed only on lots of 3 acres or more | Zoning application with a coop diagram required |
| Borough of Hampton (Hunterdon) | Up to 6 hens on 0.25 acres, plus 2 per extra 0.25 acre | Prohibited | Required: $10 annual license from the municipal clerk |
| Borough of High Bridge | No stated limit | Prohibited in R-2, R-3, R-4 and DB zones | Not specified |
| Township of Holland | Fewer than 50 | Not specified | None stated |
| Township of Kingwood | No numeric limit (permitted as agriculture) | Not restricted | None specified for keeping |
| City of Lambertville | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Lebanon | No numeric limit (permitted as agriculture) | Not restricted | None specified for keeping |
| Borough of Lebanon | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Milford | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Raritan Township | Up to 5 (lots under 3 acres); 20 fowl per acre on 3+ acres | Prohibited | Required: $100 zoning permit |
| Readington Township | No stated limit | Not specified (no prohibition) | Not required |
| Borough of Stockton | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Tewksbury Township | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Union | 6 (up to 1 acre), 10 (1-3 acres), 15 (3-5 acres); 50 per acre on 5+ acres | Prohibited on residential lots under 5 acres | Zoning permit required (survey showing the coop) |
| Township of West Amwell | No backyard cap (large-scale "intensive fowl" use is separately regulated) | Not specified | No poultry-specific permit (zoning permit applies to uses generally) |
Rules come from each town's municipal code and are cited on the town's own page. Ordinances change, so confirm with your town before you build. See every NJ town.
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