Can you keep chickens in Township of Lower, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Lower Township requires at least one acre in any district to keep customary farm animals, and a poultry shelter has to sit at least 100 feet from every lot line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Coop at least 100 feet from all lot lines and 100 feet from any dwelling on the same lot |
| Lot size | Min. 1 acre |
| Rule adopted | March 2020 |
Good to know
- A minimum of one acre is required in any district for customary farm animals.
- No poultry or livestock shelter may be built within 100 feet of any lot line.
- No poultry or livestock shelter may be built within 100 feet of a dwelling on the same lot.
- Chapter 166, Animals, covers only dogs, cats and wildlife feeding, so the zoning chapter is the rule for chickens.
Source: Township of Lower Code (eCode360), § 400-40, Minimum lot size for farm animals; § 400-29, Accessory buildings (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Lower clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cape May County towns
Building a coop in Township of Lower?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Cape MayCounty 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.