Can you keep chickens in Borough of Rumson, NJ?
No. A 2024 ordinance makes it unlawful to keep farm animals in Rumson, and the code counts chickens as farm animals. The only exception is a recognized and approved farm.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- Added 9-10-2024 by Ord. No. 24-008G as § 5-12, Prohibited Non-Domestic Animals and Farm Animals.
- The farm animal definition names poultry (chickens, turkeys) and fowl (ducks, geese).
- The only carve-out is a recognized and approved farm in the Borough. Honey bees are excluded from the farm animal definition.
- The Animal Control Officer or a Rumson police officer decides whether an animal counts as a farm animal.
Source: Borough of Rumson Code (eCode360), § 5-12.1 and § 5-12.2, Prohibited Non-Domestic Animals and Farm Animals (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Rumson clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Monmouth County towns
AberdeenAsbury ParkAtlantic HighlandsBelmarBradley BeachBrielleColts NeckEatontownFair HavenFreeholdHazletHighlandsHolmdelHowellKeansburgKeyportLittle SilverLong BranchManalapanManasquanMarlboroMatawanMiddletownMillstoneNeptuneOceanOceanportRed BankShrewsburySpring Lake HeightsTinton FallsUnion BeachUpper FreeholdWallWest Long Branch
We build across Monmouth County
Borough of Rumsondoesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout MonmouthCounty 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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