Can you keep chickens in Pohatcong Township, NJ?
Yes, with limits. Since 2023 the code allows up to 6 chickens on a property, no roosters, in a covered coop and fenced run in the side or rear yard at least 10 ft from side and rear lot lines.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 chickens or poultry |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | 10 ft from side and rear lot lines; side and rear yards only |
| Lot size | No minimum stated for up to 6 birds; zoning requires 2 acres for up to 12 free-ranging fowl |
Good to know
- Not allowed on multiunit properties, HOA common-ownership properties, or properties run by a management company or landlord.
- Coop must be covered, ventilated and predator/rodent resistant: 4 sq ft per bird with equal outdoor space, or 10 sq ft per bird without.
- Birds must stay inside fencing at least 4 ft high; droppings collected at least weekly and stored in a covered container.
- Separately, zoning § 285-31 requires 2 acres for up to 12 free-ranging fowl plus 1 acre per extra dozen (max 100), and a waste disposal plan approved by the extension service or Soil Conservation District. Farmland-assessed properties are exempt from the 6-bird rules.
Source: Pohatcong Township Code (eCode360), § 89-26, Requirements for keeping of chickens and other poultry (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Pohatcong Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Pohatcong Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across WarrenCounty 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.