NJ chicken rules · Morris County
Can you keep chickens in Roxbury Township, NJ?
Yes. Roxbury allows backyard hens on residential lots under 5 acres with a zoning permit, scaled by lot size: up to 3 hens on lots from 15,000 sq ft, or up to 6 on lots of 40,250 sq ft up to 5 acres. Roosters are prohibited.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 3 hens (15,000+ sq ft) up to 6 (40,250 sq ft–5 acres) |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required — zoning permit (plus construction permits for the coop) |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only; 10 ft from property lines and your own dwelling; 40 ft from a neighbor's dwelling |
| Lot size | Min. 15,000 sq ft (7,500 for a certified 4-H project) |
Good to know
- Coop sized at least 2 sq ft per bird plus a fenced run of at least 4 sq ft per bird; coop capped at 30 sq ft on qualifying lots.
- Run must be fully enclosed with overhead netting and fencing no taller than 6 ft; no free-roaming.
- Droppings collected weekly and kept, with feed, in covered metal containers.
- Zoning, health, and animal-control officers may inspect.
Source: Roxbury Township Land Use Code (eCode360), § 13-7.901.G, Keeping of Chickens on Residential Lots Less Than 5 Acres — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Roxbury Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Roxbury Township?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty 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.