NJ chicken rules · Mercer County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Ewing, NJ?
Ewing expressly allows backyard hens on residential lots with a $20/year Health Department license, capping the flock by lot size and banning roosters.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | By lot size: 4 (under 7,500 sf), 6 (7,500+ sf), 10 (over 40,000 sf) |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required (Health Department license, $20/year, with a zoning permit and an initial inspection) |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only; coop up to 6 ft tall and 100 sq ft total, screened by a hedge or fence; not in a wellhead-protection area |
| Lot size | No minimum; lot size sets the hen cap instead |
Good to know
- A new ordinance adopted July 2025 (Article IV, "Chickens").
- Chickens only, no other fowl; no on-site slaughter and no selling chickens or eggs from the property.
- Renters need the owner's written consent, and the owner co-signs the license.
Source: Township of Ewing Code, Ch. 97 Art. IV Chickens (eCode360), §§ 97-16 to 97-24 (Ord. 25-18) — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Ewing clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Ewing?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MercerCounty 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.