NJ chicken rules · Sussex County
Can you keep chickens in Borough of Sussex, NJ?
Sussex Borough lets you keep hens (no roosters) with a $12/year license, with the number of birds set by your lot size and the coop kept at least 5 feet from lines and neighboring homes.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | By lot size: 2 (5,000 sf), 3 (10,000), 4 (15,000), 5 (20,000), 6 (30,000), 7 (40,000), 8 (60,000), plus 1 per additional 20,000 sf |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required ($12/year Borough license; renters need written owner consent) |
| Coop setback | Coop and run at least 5 ft from any property line and 5 ft from the nearest other residence; rear yard only |
| Lot size | No minimum; the smallest tier is 5,000 sq ft for 2 birds |
Good to know
- Combined coop and run may not exceed 100 sq ft or 6 ft high.
- Selling eggs or chicken by-products is prohibited.
- Ducks, geese, and pigeons are allowed only if not a nuisance; farmland-assessed property is exempt.
Source: Borough of Sussex Code, Ch. 5 Animals, Art. II (eCode360), §§ 5-27 to 5-35 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Sussex clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Sussex?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across SussexCounty 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.