Can you keep chickens in Jefferson Township, NJ?
Yes. Jefferson allows up to 5 hens on lots of an acre or less and up to 10 on lots of 2 acres or more. Roosters are prohibited (except on farmland-assessed property), and the coop must sit in the rear yard, at least 50 feet from any dwelling.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
| Hens | 5 (≤1 acre) up to 10 (2+ acres) |
| Roosters | Prohibited (except farmland-assessed property) |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only; 25 ft from a fenced line, 50 ft from an unfenced line, 50 ft from any dwelling |
| Lot size | No minimum; hen count scales with acreage |
| Ducks | Allowed with conditions |
Good to know
- One shelter per lot; shelter maxes at 100 sq ft, shelter plus run at 150 sq ft, height at 6 ft.
- Hens only; kept clean and free of odor and pests.
- Slaughtering chickens in public view is prohibited.
- Adopted November 2020.
What about ducks?
Only on farmland. Jefferson's hen rule is for chickens; ducks are listed as livestock, allowed only on farmland-assessed property of at least 5 acres with shelters 200 feet from property lines.
§ 146-38: "The keeping of livestock, including but not limited to cows, horses, sheep, goats, ducks, pigs, llamas, alpacas, peacocks, chickens and roosters, shall only be permitted on farmland-assessed property" Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Jefferson Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Morris 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 Morris County towns
Compare them side by side in the Morris 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.