Can you keep chickens in Montgomery Township, NJ?
Yes. Montgomery allows up to 6 chickens on the minimum half-acre lot, plus 2 more per additional half-acre. Roosters are prohibited, a zoning permit is required, and the coop must sit in the rear yard at least 25 feet from any property line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 6 on ½ acre, +2 per additional ½ acre |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Zoning permit required |
| Coop setback | 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighbor's home; rear yard only |
| Lot size | Minimum ½ acre |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- Fully enclosed shelter capped at 150 sq ft; enclosed 'chicken tractors' allowed as a supplement.
- No slaughtering in public view; no running at large.
- Adopted 2021.
What about ducks?
Unclear. Montgomery's backyard rule covers chickens only and the code never mentions ducks, so ask the township before getting ducks.
§ 5-8: "No more than six chickens may be kept on any parcel that meets the minimum lot size." Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Montgomery Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Somerset County 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.
Chicken rules in nearby Somerset County towns
Compare them side by side in the Somerset County table.
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.