NJ chicken rules · Hunterdon County
Can you keep chickens in Township of East Amwell, NJ?
East Amwell has no dedicated chicken ordinance. Small-scale poultry and livestock keeping is a permitted accessory agricultural use in residential zones, with no hen limit, backed by the township's Right-to-Farm chapter.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No numeric limit (accessory agricultural use) |
| Roosters | Not restricted |
| Permit | None specified for keeping |
| Coop setback | No poultry-specific setback in the code |
| Lot size | Commercial agricultural use needs 5+ acres, but small animal and livestock raising is allowed as an accessory use in the Residential zone regardless |
Good to know
- The Animals chapters cover only dogs and cat rabies; poultry is governed by the land-management (zoning) code.
- Residential accessory uses expressly include "small animal and livestock raising" (§ 92-94C(4)).
- The Right to Farm chapter protects keeping of fowl (§ 110-3).
Source: Township of East Amwell Code, Ch. 92 Land Management (eCode360), § 92-94C(4); § 110-3 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of East Amwell clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of East Amwell?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across HunterdonCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
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.