Can you keep chickens in Township of Franklin (Gloucester), NJ?
Only on larger lots. Franklin treats backyard poultry as home animal agriculture, which needs a lot of at least 1 1/2 acres: one acre for the house plus a half acre for up to 15 birds.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 15 birds per 1/2 acre |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Coop 20 ft from any property line, 40 ft from your own house and 120 ft from a neighboring house |
| Lot size | Min. 1 1/2 acres |
| Rule adopted | July 2008 |
Good to know
- Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and game hens are all listed as poultry under home animal agriculture.
- Only five geese, ducks or turkeys are allowed per half acre, against 15 for chickens.
- Each shelter needs at least two square feet per chicken, and fencing at 10 square feet per chicken.
- Manure has to be removed weekly and cannot go out with township trash.
Source: Township of Franklin Code (eCode360), § 253-190.12, Home animal agriculture (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Franklin (Gloucester) clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Gloucester County towns
Building a coop in Township of Franklin (Gloucester)?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across GloucesterCounty 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.