Can you keep chickens in Borough of Elmer, NJ?
Yes. Elmer lets residents keep chickens as long as they are confined in an enclosure that keeps them off neighbors' property and out of the streets.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- § 5-7 covers chickens, geese, pigeons and larger livestock alike.
- Fines are $50 for a first offense and up to $100 or 10 days in jail for later offenses.
- The zoning Schedule of District Regulations and the nuisance rules in Chapter 10 do not mention poultry; Chapter 10 bans beehives but not chickens.
Source: Borough of Elmer Code (eCode360), § 5-7, General prohibitions (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Elmer clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Salem County towns
Compare them side by side in the Salem County table.
Building a coop in Borough of Elmer?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across SalemCounty 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.