NJ chicken rules · Hunterdon County
Backyard chicken rules in Hunterdon County, NJ
Every town in Hunterdon County sets its own rule. Of the 22 we have read, 20 allow backyard hens outright or with conditions, 0 ban them, and 2 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 | Not specified (no per-bird number) | Not specified | No poultry-specific permit |
| 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 | Not specified (no numeric limit) | Not specified | Zoning permit for uses generally; no poultry-specific permit |
| 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 High Bridge | No stated limit | Prohibited in R-2, R-3, R-4 and DB zones | Not specified |
| Township of Holland | No numeric limit | Not restricted | None specified |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tewksbury Township | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Union | Not specified (governed by the Table of Use Regulations) | Not specified | Zoning permit for uses generally; no poultry-specific permit found |
| 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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