NJ chicken rules · Union County
Can you keep chickens in Township of Scotch Plains, NJ?
Scotch Plains lets you keep up to 6 hens (no roosters) with an annual health license and a zoning permit, in a rear-yard coop.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required ($100 annual Health Department license plus a $75 zoning permit; survey required) |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only, within the zone's building setbacks or 20 ft, whichever is greater |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- Coop and run capped at 100 sq ft; birds must be confined, no free-ranging or open pens.
- Coop must be predator- and rodent-proof; manure kept in covered metal containers.
- Added by ordinance in 2018.
Source: Township of Scotch Plains Code, Ch. 5 Animals (eCode360), § 5-10 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of Scotch Plains clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Scotch Plains?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across UnionCounty 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.