Can you keep chickens in Lawrence Township (Cumberland), NJ?
Only on lots of at least 1 acre. In residential districts Lawrence Township allows up to 12 chickens or other poultry, housed at least 100 feet from streets and property lines.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 12 birds |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | 100 ft from streets and property lines; fencing 10 ft from lot lines |
| Lot size | Min. 1 acre |
Good to know
- Chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys are Class III animals under § 12.5.
- Birds must be kept in a pen or other enclosure with housing; no animal housing or outdoor manure within 100 ft of a street or property line.
- Animal fencing must be at least 50 ft from the nearest neighbor's dwelling.
- The limits do not apply in the A Agriculture district or on a bona fide farm. Source is the township's posted July 2003 ordinance, not an online codified code.
Source: Lawrence Township Development Regulations Ordinance (township website PDF), § 12.5, Keeping of animals and livestock (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Lawrence Township (Cumberland) clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cumberland County towns
Compare them side by side in the Cumberland County table.
Building a coop in Lawrence Township (Cumberland)?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across CumberlandCounty 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.