NJ chicken rules · Monmouth County
Backyard chicken rules in Monmouth County, NJ
Every town in Monmouth County sets its own rule. Of the 53 we have read, 24 allow backyard hens outright or with conditions, 16 ban them, and 13 have no clear rule in the code. Each town page cites the ordinance it comes from.
| Town | Hens | Roosters | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township of Aberdeen | About 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot (2 at 2,000 sq ft), max 12 | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres | Zoning permit plus $25 annual license; proof of an in-person poultry class |
| Borough of Allenhurst | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Allentown | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| City of Asbury Park | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Atlantic Highlands | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available on a normal lot; farm animals need a Municipal Clerk license and five acres |
| Borough of Avon-by-the-Sea | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Belmar | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Bradley Beach | Not permitted | Not specified | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Brielle | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Colts Neck Township | Not allowed on ordinary residential lots; only in the A-1/AG districts | Not separately addressed | Not specified |
| Borough of Deal | Not permitted | Prohibited in residential districts | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Eatontown | Up to 12 hens, by lot size | Prohibited on residential lots under 5 acres | Required: zoning permit plus $25 annual license |
| Borough of Englishtown | Up to 5 hens | Prohibited | Not specified |
| Borough of Fair Haven | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Farmingdale | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Freehold | Not permitted (unless the lot qualifies as a farm) | Not permitted | No backyard-hen permit |
| Borough of Freehold | Up to 6 hens | Prohibited | Required: annual Board of Health permit, $50 first year, $20 renewal |
| Township of Hazlet | By lot size: 3 (5,000 sf), 4 (6,000), 5 (7,000), 6 (8,000); max 6; none under 5,000 sf | Prohibited | Required (zoning permit plus a $50/year license and proof of a poultry-education class) |
| Borough of Highlands | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Township of Holmdel | Up to 6 on lots up to ~43,000 sq ft; up to 12 on larger lots | Prohibited | Required (zoning permit for the coop) |
| Howell Township | No numeric limit | Not specified | Not specified (permitted use; structures need zoning approval) |
| Borough of Interlaken | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Keansburg | Up to 10 poultry | Only on a farm of 5 acres or more, and never audible beyond 100 ft | Not required for 10 or fewer; above 10 needs a $1 license and neighbor consent |
| Borough of Keyport | Up to 6 hens | Prohibited | Required: $50 annual Board of Health permit, $10 renewal |
| Borough of Lake Como | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Little Silver | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Village of Loch Arbour | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| City of Long Branch | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Manalapan | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Manasquan | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Marlboro Township | No cap for non-commercial keeping; 100+ fowl = commercial | Not specified | Not specified (nuisance rules apply) |
| Borough of Matawan | Up to 10 hens, by lot size | Prohibited | Required: zoning permit plus $25 annual license |
| Township of Middletown | Not specified (no numeric limit in the code) | Allowed if contained | Not required to keep chickens (any farm use follows normal zoning) |
| Township of Millstone | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Monmouth Beach | No stated limit | Not specified | Required: Board of Health permit, no fee stated |
| Township of Neptune | Up to 4 per lot | Not allowed on lots under 5 acres | Zoning permit from the Zoning Officer, with proof of a chicken-keeping class; building or electric permits for the coop as needed |
| Borough of Neptune City | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Township of Ocean | No numerical limit stated | Permitted ("cocks" are within the fowl definition; no rooster ban) | No mandatory permit; an owner may request a $5 building-official compliance inspection |
| Borough of Oceanport | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Red Bank | Up to 12, permit required for 4 or more | Prohibited | Required: written permit from the Board of Health |
| Borough of Roosevelt | Up to 12 chickens | Prohibited on residential lots | Required: zoning permit plus $25 annual license |
| Borough of Rumson | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Sea Bright | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Sea Girt | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Shrewsbury | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Shrewsbury | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Spring Lake | Not permitted | Prohibited | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Spring Lake Heights | Not permitted | Not specified | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Borough of Tinton Falls | Up to 4 per license | Prohibited | Required ($10/year license, capped at 25 borough-wide; a backyard-chicken class is required) |
| Borough of Union Beach | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Upper Freehold | No stated limit | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Wall | Up to 12 (18 on lots of 60,000 sq ft or more) | Prohibited on residential lots under 5 acres | Zoning permit required |
| Borough of West Long Branch | Up to 6 hens (12 on lots over 43,000 sq. ft.) | Prohibited | Required: zoning permit for the coop |
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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