Can you keep chickens in Borough of Hopewell, NJ?
No. The Borough of Hopewell zoning code bans keeping chickens or fowl of any kind in every zone except as part of a permitted farm use, and a farm must be 5 or more acres.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | Not specified |
| Ducks | Not allowed (same rule as chickens) |
Good to know
- § 12-5.8(e) lists keeping or raising chickens or fowl of any kind as a prohibited use in any zone, except with a permitted farm use.
- The R-75P residential zone allows farms except livestock and poultry (§ 12-13.1).
- A farm is defined as a parcel of 5 acres or more used for gain (§ 12-4.28).
- The Animals chapter and Board of Health chapters have no chicken rules.
What about ducks?
No. The Borough of Hopewell bans keeping fowl of any kind, which includes ducks, in every zone except as part of a permitted farm use of 5 or more acres.
§ 12-5.8e: "The keeping or raising of swine, chickens, game birds, or fowl of any kind or horses, cows or other farm animals of any kind, except in connection with a permitted farm use" Duck coops we build.
We build across Mercer County
Borough of Hopewell doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Mercer County and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
Chicken rules in nearby Mercer County towns
Compare them side by side in the Mercer 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.