NJ chicken rules · Mercer County
Can you keep chickens in Municipality of Princeton, NJ?
Princeton lets residents keep hens (no roosters) under a $20 annual license, with the number capped by lot size and the coop set 5 feet off the property line and 15 feet from a neighbor's home.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 2 to 8 or more, scaled by lot size (2 at 5,000 sq ft, up to 8 at 60,000) |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required ($20/year license) |
| Coop setback | 5 ft from property lines; 15 ft from a neighbor's dwelling; rear yard only |
| Lot size | Minimum 5,000 sq ft |
Good to know
- The coop and enclosed run are capped at 100 sq ft and 6 ft high.
- Selling eggs is prohibited, and so is slaughter or abandonment.
- Farmland-assessed property is exempt from the article.
Source: Municipality of Princeton Code, Ch. B6, Art. VIIA (eCode360), § B6-30A.1, B6-30A.2, B6-30A.6 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Municipality of Princeton clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Municipality of Princeton?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MercerCounty 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.