NJ chicken rules · Morris County
Can you keep chickens in Borough of Madison, NJ?
Madison lets a homeowner keep up to 6 hens (no roosters) with an annual $25 Health Department permit plus zoning approval, in a coop no larger than 36 sq ft kept back from lot lines and neighboring homes.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 mature hens per permit |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required (Health Department permit, $25/year, plus conditional zoning approval first) |
| Coop setback | At least 15 ft from any property line or 50 ft from an adjacent dwelling, whichever is greater; not within 200 ft of a food establishment |
| Lot size | No minimum stated (a current survey showing the coop location is required) |
Good to know
- Coop capped at 36 sq ft, coop plus run at 100 sq ft; a relocation needs a new permit.
- Predator-resistant construction, airtight feed storage, and bagged or composted manure required.
- Governed by the Board of Health "Managed Care of Chickens" chapter plus a zoning section.
Source: Borough of Madison Board of Health Code Ch. 203 & Zoning Ch. 218, Ch. 203 Art. II; Ch. 218 § 2 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Madison clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Madison?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
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.