Can you keep chickens in Township of Dennis, NJ?
Yes. Residential agriculture, which includes poultry for household use, is a permitted accessory use in the township's residential zones, but a poultry shelter must sit at least 50 feet from every lot line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Coop at least 50 feet from all lot lines and 50 feet from any dwelling on the same lot |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Residential agriculture is listed as a permitted accessory use in the residential zone districts.
- The code defines residential agriculture to include poultry products for household use only.
- No poultry or livestock shelter may be built within 50 feet of any lot line.
- No poultry or livestock shelter may be built within 50 feet of a dwelling on the same lot.
Source: Township of Dennis Code (eCode360), § 185-31, Accessory buildings; Ch. 185, Art. II, Definitions, "Residential Agriculture" (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Dennis clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cape May County towns
Building a coop in Township of Dennis?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Cape MayCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
In an HOA? The town allowing hens is not the same as your association allowing them. What an HOA can and cannot stop.
New to this? Start with how to raise chickens in NJ, or what a coop costs.
Ready to keep your flock safe?
Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.