Can you keep chickens in Raritan Township, NJ?
Yes. Raritan Township (Hunterdon) allows up to 5 hens on residential lots under 3 acres in its rural and residential zones, with a $100 zoning permit. Roosters are prohibited, and poultry isn't allowed at all in the denser zones (R-5 and up).
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 5 (lots under 3 acres); 20 fowl per acre on 3+ acres |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: $100 zoning permit |
| Coop setback | 30 ft from any property line; not in front of the main structure |
| Lot size | The 5-hen rule applies to lots under 3 acres; prohibited in R-5 and denser zones |
| Ducks | Same rules as chickens |
Good to know
- Enclosure must be covered, ventilated, and predator- and rodent-resistant, with at least 4 sq ft per chicken and 6-ft fencing.
- Coop capped at 100 sq ft (200 sq ft with the run); chickens may not roam free.
- Slaughtering chickens within public view is prohibited; droppings collected at least weekly.
What about ducks?
Yes. Raritan Township defines poultry and fowl to include ducks, so ducks follow the same rules as hens: limited lots, a zoning permit, and none in the denser zones.
§ 296-3 (Fowl, Poultry); § 296-95E(1): "FOWL Domesticated chickens, ducks, peahens, and the like, excluding roosters" Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Raritan Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Hunterdon County 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.
Chicken rules in nearby Hunterdon County towns
Compare them side by side in the Hunterdon County table.
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.