Can you keep chickens in Township of Lakewood, NJ?
Unclear. Lakewood's code has no rule about keeping backyard hens, and poultry only shows up as a farm use, which is a permitted use in the A-1 Agricultural zone and a conditional use needing 6 acres elsewhere.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
| Hens | Not specified |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Not specified for backyard hens; farm and stable conditional uses need 100 feet from all property lines |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- The Animal Control chapter defines a domestic animal as a cat, dog or livestock other than poultry, so poultry sits outside it.
- Farming is defined as raising livestock, poultry or small animals as a major source of income, which does not describe a few backyard hens.
- Customary agricultural uses are a permitted use in the A-1 Agricultural zone, with hogs and goats excluded.
- Agricultural uses and stables are a conditional use elsewhere, needing at least 6 acres and a 100 foot setback from all property lines.
Source: Township of Lakewood Code (eCode360), § 18-1002, Agricultural Uses and Stables; § 18-200B, Definitions (FARMING) (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Lakewood clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Ocean County towns
Building a coop in Township of Lakewood?
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.