NJ chicken rules · Sussex County
Backyard chicken rules in Sussex County, NJ
Every town in Sussex County sets its own rule. Of the 24 we have read, 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough of Andover | 5 per 10,000 sq ft of lot, max 25 | Not allowed on residential property (hens only in the R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1 and C-3 zones) | Not specified |
| Andover Township | 4 hens (up to 8 after one year) | Prohibited | Required: $15 annual license + course + coop inspection |
| Borough of Branchville | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Byram Township | Up to 32 bird units per acre, 96 max for home flocks (a hen is 1 unit, a duck 2, a turkey 3, a goose 4) | Not specified | None stated |
| Frankford Township | No poultry-specific limit | Not specified | Not specified (zoning permitted/accessory use) |
| Borough of Franklin | Up to 12 poultry and fowl total | Not prohibited (roosters count toward the 12-bird limit) | None specified |
| Township of Fredon | No numeric cap (zoning states "poultry, no ratio") | Not specified | Not specified (no chicken permit; only dog licensing) |
| Green Township | No numeric limit (allowed as an ag use on 5+ acres) | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Hamburg | Up to 50 poultry = one animal unit (per 3 acres) | Not specified | Not specified (accessory use, decided case by case by the zoning officer) |
| Township of Hampton | None under 20,000 sq ft; up to 6 on lots under 1 acre; up to 15 on lots over 1 acre | Not allowed unless the lot is 2 acres or more, then 1 rooster | Zoning permit from the Zoning Officer for all coops and runs |
| Hardyston Township | Not specified in the code | Not specified | Not specified |
| Hopatcong | 4 per 10,000 sq ft (max 12) | Prohibited | Not required |
| Lafayette Township | No numeric limit | Not specified | Not specified (agriculture is a permitted use) |
| Township of Montague | By lot size: 6 (under 1.5 ac), 12 (1.5 ac), 18 (2 ac), 24 (2.5 ac), 30 (3 ac), 60 (4 ac), 90 (4+ ac) | Allowed and capped: 0 under 4 acres, 2 at 4 acres, 3 above 4 acres | Required (township license; renters need prior written owner consent) |
| Newton | Up to 5 hens | Prohibited | Not specified |
| Borough of Ogdensburg | Up to 6 (hens only) | Prohibited | Required (zoning permit for all coops and runs) |
| Township of Sandyston | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Township of Sparta | No numeric limit (regulated as livestock) | Not specified | Not specified |
| Borough of Stanhope | No numeric limit, but only on 5+ acres | Not specified separately (chickens or other fowl treated together) | Not specified |
| Township of Stillwater | No number set | Not addressed; noise must stay on your property | None in the zoning code; follow Board of Health rules |
| Borough of Sussex | By lot size: 2 (5,000 sf), 3 (10,000), 4 (15,000), 5 (20,000), 6 (30,000), 7 (40,000), 8 (60,000), plus 1 per additional 20,000 sf | Prohibited | Required ($12/year Borough license; renters need written owner consent) |
| Vernon Township | 6 birds (100×200 ft lot) up to 15 (1–5 acres) | Prohibited | Required: $50 zoning permit |
| Township of Walpack | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Wantage Township | No numeric limit ("poultry, no ratio") | Not specified | Must be in connection with agriculture; general zoning applies |
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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