Can you keep chickens in Borough of Middlesex, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Middlesex Borough allows chickens, ducks and geese for domestic use but the lot must hold at least one acre, and the coop and runway must be at least 100 feet from the doors or windows of any building people use.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 25 fowl on at least one acre; more than 25 needs two acres |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Required for keeping fowl for commercial purposes; $100 annual license for farm, domestic and wild animals |
| Coop setback | 100 feet from the doors or windows of any building occupied by people |
| Lot size | Min. 1 acre |
Good to know
- Fowl must be confined in a suitable house or coop with an enclosed runway, not allowed to run at large.
- More than 25 fowl needs at least two acres, unless the birds are kept 300 feet from any dwelling other than the keeper's.
- Poultry kept temporarily for markets or educational purposes is exempt from these conditions.
- Penalties run $10 to $100, with each day a separate offense.
Source: Borough of Middlesex Code (eCode360), § 446-63, Rules and regulations (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Middlesex clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Middlesex County towns
Building a coop in Borough of Middlesex?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MiddlesexCounty 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.