NJ chicken rules · Sussex County
Can you keep chickens in Borough of Hamburg, NJ?
Hamburg has no backyard-hen ordinance. Poultry is regulated only as farm animals: a flock of up to 50 birds counts as one animal unit, which requires 3 contiguous acres and a shelter set back 50 feet from your home and every property line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 50 poultry = one animal unit (per 3 acres) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified (accessory use, decided case by case by the zoning officer) |
| Coop setback | Shelter at least 50 ft from the main building and 50 ft from any property line |
| Lot size | 3 contiguous acres per animal unit |
Good to know
- Zoning § 215-22.1 counts 50 poultry as one "animal unit" and requires 3 contiguous acres for each unit.
- The animals chapter covers only cats, dogs, and wildlife feeding, not chickens.
- House pets living inside the home are exempt, but poultry in a coop is not a house pet.
Source: Borough of Hamburg Code, Ch. 215 Zoning (eCode360), § 215-22.1 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Hamburg clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Hamburg?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across SussexCounty 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.