NJ chicken rules · Mercer County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Robbinsville, NJ?
Robbinsville allows chickens only as farm livestock under its zoning code, a minimum of 5 acres for every 2 animals, in the rural districts only, with 100-foot setbacks, so ordinary backyard flocks aren't permitted.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Counted as farm livestock: a minimum of 5 acres for every 2 animals |
| Roosters | Not addressed |
| Permit | No chicken license; zoning-governed |
| Coop setback | Fowl shelter no closer than 100 ft to any property or street line or any dwelling on the same lot |
| Lot size | 5 acres per 2 animals; commercial poultry farms need 50+ acres |
Good to know
- Keeping fowl is a permitted use only in the rural-residential and low-density districts, in areas classified as farms.
- The animals chapter doesn't regulate chicken-keeping, and there's no small-lot backyard-hen allowance.
- This is the former Washington Township (Mercer), renamed Robbinsville.
Source: Township of Robbinsville Code, Ch. 142 Land Use (eCode360), §§ 142-13, 142-16, 142-33D, 142-108 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Robbinsville clerk or zoning office before you build.
We build across Mercer County
Township of Robbinsvilledoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout MercerCounty and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
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Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.