Can you keep chickens in Borough of Lakehurst, NJ?
Yes, with a $10 annual license from the Borough Clerk. Hens only, in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, on a single-family property, and first-time keepers must take a backyard chicken class.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit, but the coop needs 3 square feet per hen |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: $10 annual license plus an approved chicken-keeping class |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only, and no closer than 15 feet to a neighbor's door or window |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Allowed only in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, and only on an occupied single-family property. Not on duplex, triplex or multifamily lots, or in mobile home parks.
- The coop and run together may not exceed 25% of the back yard, and the coop may not be taller than 7 feet. Over 100 square feet needs a building permit.
- Ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl and roosters are all barred.
- Chickens are for personal use only. Selling chickens, eggs or manure and on-site slaughtering are prohibited.
- A three-member Chicken Advisory Board oversees licenses and handles complaints.
Source: Borough of Lakehurst Code (eCode360), § 5-12, Backyard Chickens (Ord. No. 2018-16) (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Lakehurst clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Ocean County towns
Building a coop in Borough of Lakehurst?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across OceanCounty 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.