NJ chicken rules · Morris County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Morris, NJ?
Morris Township prohibits keeping fowl on less than 3 acres as a nuisance. On 3 or more acres you may keep up to 20 fowl, adding an acre for each additional 20, with the coop set back 50 feet from lines and neighbors.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 20 fowl on the first 3 acres, plus 1 acre per additional 20 fowl |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | None named (enforced by Health Department and zoning) |
| Coop setback | Housing at least 50 ft from any property line and 50 ft from any dwelling on adjoining property |
| Lot size | Minimum 3 acres for fowl (5 acres if both animals and fowl are kept) |
Good to know
- Keeping fowl on less than 3 acres is deemed a prohibited nuisance.
- Manure may not be piled within 100 ft of a neighboring dwelling.
- This is Morris Township, distinct from the Town of Morristown and Morris Plains.
Source: Township of Morris Code, Ch. 514 Art. II (eCode360), §§ 514-18, 514-19 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Morris clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Morris?
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.
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.