Can you keep chickens in Township of Middle, NJ?
Yes. Chickens are permitted in every residential district on a lot of at least 10,000 square feet, with five birds allowed up to 35,000 square feet and 10 birds from 35,001 square feet up to two acres.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 5 birds on 10,000 to 35,000 sq ft; up to 10 birds from 35,001 sq ft to 2 acres |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Not specified; birds must be completely contained on site |
| Lot size | Min. 10,000 square feet |
| Rule adopted | April 2018 |
Good to know
- Chickens, ducks and geese are grouped as small domestic farm animals and allowed in all residential districts.
- The bird count caps cover all small domestic farm animals together, not chickens alone.
- Birds must be completely contained on site.
- Birds cannot be bred for sale or used to generate income, except with a farm stand.
Source: Township of Middle Code (eCode360), § 250-610, Keeping of domestic farm animals (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Middle clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cape May County towns
Building a coop in Township of Middle?
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.