NJ chicken rules · Somerset County
Can you keep chickens in Hillsborough Township, NJ?
Yes. Hillsborough permits backyard fowl in its residential districts, with no numeric hen limit in the code. The main rule is a 50-foot setback from any side or rear property line. Despite what some blogs say, the adopted code contains no rooster ban.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
| Hens | No numeric limit |
| Roosters | Not specified — no rooster ban in the adopted code |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | 50 ft from any side or rear property line (backyard flock) |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Poultry may not run at large.
- A 'rooster ban' is repeated online but appears only in board minutes, not the adopted ordinance — confirm with the township.
Source: Hillsborough Township Land Use Code (eCode360), Ch. 188, § 188-98 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Hillsborough Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Hillsborough Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across SomersetCounty 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.