NJ chicken rules · Middlesex County
Can you keep chickens in Monroe Township (Middlesex), NJ?
In Monroe Township (Middlesex County), keeping poultry is allowed only on lots of 1 acre or more. Structures must sit at least 50 feet from any property line and 50 feet from a neighbor's dwelling, in the rear yard. Flock size follows Rutgers home-agriculture guidelines.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No fixed number (scales by acreage per Rutgers guidelines) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified (Health Officer may inspect) |
| Coop setback | 50 ft from any property line and 50 ft from a neighbor's dwelling; rear yard only |
| Lot size | Minimum 1 acre |
Good to know
- Note: this is Monroe Township in Middlesex County — not the Gloucester County Monroe, which runs a very different backyard-chicken license program.
- Sanitation, water, and waste standards apply.
Source: Monroe Township (Middlesex) Land Development Code (eCode360), Ch. 108, § 108-5.22 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Monroe Township (Middlesex) clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Monroe Township (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.
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.