Can you keep chickens in Township of Moorestown, NJ?
Yes, poultry is an allowed accessory use in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residence districts, but every building used for keeping poultry, including a coop, has to sit at least 50 feet from every street line and property line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Coop at least 50 feet from every street line and property line |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- In R-1 the two-acre minimum applies to horses and livestock, not to poultry.
- In R-2 the keeping of poultry is listed as an accessory use, and R-3 permits all R-2 uses.
- The 50-foot setback from every line is hard to meet on a small lot; R-3 lots can be 75 feet wide.
- The RLC Residence-Limited Commercial district takes all R-2 uses except the keeping of poultry or horses.
Source: Township of Moorestown Code (eCode360), § 180-8A, R-1 use restrictions and regulations; § 180-21B, R-2 use restrictions and regulations (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Moorestown clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Burlington County towns
Building a coop in Township of Moorestown?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across BurlingtonCounty 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.