Can you keep chickens in Borough of Frenchtown, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Frenchtown's zoning treats poultry husbandry as agriculture, which it limits to farms of at least 5 acres, and any poultry shelter must sit at least 100 ft from every property line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit (farm use on 5+ acres) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | 100 ft from any property line |
| Lot size | Min. 5 acres (farm use) |
Good to know
- The only listed exceptions to the 5-acre farm rule are crops and greenhouses, up to two horses on 3+ acres, and 4-H or student livestock projects on 3+ acres. Chickens are not among them.
- The code defines agriculture to include poultry husbandry and buildings for keeping poultry.
- Code searches for chickens and fowl return nothing; there is no separate backyard chicken ordinance.
Source: Borough of Frenchtown Code (eCode360), § 50-301P, Agricultural activities; § 50-303E(3), Accessory buildings and structures; § 50-104, Definitions (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Frenchtown clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Frenchtown?
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.
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.