Can you keep chickens in Borough of South Plainfield, NJ?
Unclear. The Borough code has no rules for keeping backyard chickens, but its Board of Health fee schedule lists a $75 annual license for poultry (chickens).
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
| Hens | Not specified |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Board of Health license fee listed: $75 per year, expires March 31 |
| Coop setback | Not specified |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- The only mention of chickens in the code is a Board of Health fee line: Poultry (Chickens), $75, renewed annually on March 31.
- A separate commercial poultry establishment license is $250 per year.
- Code searches for chickens, poultry, fowl, livestock and rooster found no limits on number, roosters, coops or setbacks.
- Ask the Board of Health what the license covers before buying birds.
Source: Borough of South Plainfield Code (eCode360), § 216-7, Fees established (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of South Plainfield clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of South Plainfield?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MiddlesexCounty 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.