NJ chicken rules · Monmouth County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Ocean, NJ?
Ocean Township (Oakhurst) allows fowl, including chickens and even roosters, if they have a proper coop and it sits at least 50 feet from every property line and 100 feet from any dwelling on the lot.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No numerical limit stated |
| Roosters | Permitted ("cocks" are within the fowl definition; no rooster ban) |
| Permit | No mandatory permit; an owner may request a $5 building-official compliance inspection |
| Coop setback | No coop or pen within 50 ft of any property line or 100 ft of any dwelling on the lot |
| Lot size | No stated minimum, though the setbacks effectively require a large lot |
Good to know
- Fowl are defined broadly (chickens, hens, ducks, turkeys, cocks, pheasants, and barnyard birds).
- A fully enclosed coop of standard design is required.
- This is the Monmouth County Ocean Township (Oakhurst), not Ocean County, Ocean City, or Ocean Gate.
Source: Township of Ocean (Monmouth Co.) Code, Ch. 95, Art. I (eCode360), §§ 95-2, 95-4D, 95-8 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Ocean clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Ocean?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MonmouthCounty 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.