Can you keep chickens in Borough of Morris Plains, NJ?
Yes. You can keep up to 6 hens on any property regardless of lot size, roosters are banned, and the coop or enclosure needs an accessory building permit.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 hens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: accessory building permit for the coop or enclosure |
| Coop setback | Must meet the zoning rules for accessory structures |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Hens must be kept in a structure or fenced enclosure that protects them from weather and predators.
- The coop or enclosure must be screened from view from the street.
- Must be kept clean, with no noise, odor or other nuisance.
- All other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys, roosters and others) and livestock are banned.
Source: Borough of Morris Plains Code (eCode360), Ch. 5, Art. 3, §§ 5-40 to 5-44, Livestock, Chickens and Poultry (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Morris Plains clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Morris County towns
BoontonButlerChathamChester TownshipBorough of ChesterDenvilleDoverEast HanoverFlorham ParkHanoverHardingJeffersonKinnelonLincoln ParkLong HillMadisonMendham TownshipBorough of MendhamMine HillMontvilleTownship of MorrisMorristownMount ArlingtonMount OliveMountain LakesNetcongParsippany-Troy HillsPequannockRandolphRiverdaleRockaway TownshipBorough of RockawayRoxburyWashington Township (Morris)Wharton
Building a coop in Borough of Morris Plains?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty 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.