NJ chicken rules · Middlesex County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Plainsboro, NJ?
Plainsboro allows keeping fowl only as a farm use in its R-200 Rural Zone, not in ordinary residential zones, with shelters set well back from lines and neighbors.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No hard cap for small flocks (100+ fowl triggers larger setbacks) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Allowed as a farm use in the R-200 zone (no separate poultry permit named) |
| Coop setback | Fowl shelter at least 30 ft from side/rear lines and 100 ft from an adjoining dwelling |
| Lot size | R-200 Rural Zone, roughly 0.81-acre minimum lot; fowl not a permitted use in standard residential zones |
Good to know
- Farm and agricultural activities, including small animal and livestock raising, are a permitted use only in the R-200 Rural Zone.
- Standard residential zones do not list fowl-keeping, so it isn't allowed there.
- Larger flocks (over 100 fowl) face 90-200 ft setbacks.
Source: Township of Plainsboro Code, Ch. 101 Zoning, Art. V (eCode360), § 101-25; § 101-30 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Plainsboro clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Plainsboro?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MiddlesexCounty 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.