Can you keep chickens in Township of Ocean (Ocean County), NJ?
Yes, but the setbacks are strict. Fowl need a proper coop, and no coop, pen or enclosure may sit within 50 feet of a property line or within 100 feet of the house on the same lot.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not required; a $5 inspection and certification is available on request |
| Coop setback | 50 feet from any property line, 100 feet from the dwelling on the lot |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Fowl are Class IV animals, which covers chickens, hens, ducks, turkeys, cocks and pheasants.
- A shelter building of standard design with a fully enclosed coop is required.
- Class I wild animals are banned outright, and horses and cattle carry their own acreage rules.
- Breaking these rules is declared a public nuisance and can be abated at the owner's expense.
Source: Township of Ocean Code (eCode360), Ch. 95, Art. I, §§ 95-2 to 95-8, Keeping of Animals (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Ocean (Ocean County) clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Ocean County towns
Building a coop in Township of Ocean (Ocean County)?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across OceanCounty 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.