Can you keep chickens in Borough of Runnemede, NJ?
Yes, with a $10 annual license. Flock size is two chickens per 1,000 square feet of lot up to nine birds, no roosters, and only 20 licenses exist at a time.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 2 per 1,000 sq ft of lot, up to 9 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: $10 annual license plus a class and a meeting with the Chicken Advisory Board |
| Coop setback | Coop and run at least 15 feet from a neighboring dwelling, with a 5-foot side and rear yard buffer |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
| Rule adopted | April 2024 |
Good to know
- Single-family homes, twin homes and row homes that meet the criteria are eligible.
- Chickens must stay in the rear yard, and the coop needs at least 3 square feet per bird.
- Licenses expire every March 1, and tenants need the landlord's consent.
- Chickens may not be slaughtered in the borough.
Source: Borough of Runnemede Code (eCode360), §§ 413-3 to 413-5, Backyard Chicken Program (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Runnemede clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Camden County towns
Building a coop in Borough of Runnemede?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across CamdenCounty 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.
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.