Can you keep chickens in Township of Franklin, NJ?
Yes, on larger lots. Franklin Township (Hunterdon) allows up to 25 fowl on a lot of 65,340 sq ft (1.5 acres) and up to 150 on 130,680 sq ft (3 acres), not counting the house and garage footprint, in all zones.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 25 on 65,340 sq ft; pro rata up to 150 on 130,680 sq ft; then up to 300 per acre |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | None stated for small flocks |
| Coop setback | Only buildings housing more than 500 fowl must be 100 ft from roads and side and rear lines |
| Lot size | 65,340 sq ft (1.5 acres) is the smallest lot the rule addresses, excluding house and garage area |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- The fowl caps are in the right-to-farm section and apply in all zones.
- The code does not say how many fowl a lot under 65,340 sq ft may keep; ask the township before keeping hens on a smaller lot.
- Fowl must be confined and kept sanitary under the animal chapter.
- This is the Hunterdon Franklin Township, not the Somerset one.
What about ducks?
Probably, but not spelled out. Franklin Township caps 'fowl' by lot size (for example 25 on about 1.5 acres), but never defines fowl or mentions ducks, so confirm with the township.
§ 220-10; § 220-13E: "Not more than 25 fowl on a lot of 65,340 square feet of area and not more than 150 fowl on a lot of 130,680 square feet of area" Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Township of Franklin?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Hunterdon County 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.
Chicken rules in nearby Hunterdon County towns
Compare them side by side in the Hunterdon County table.
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.