Can you keep chickens in Township of Tabernacle, NJ?
Yes, with a permit from the Zoning Officer. You need at least half an acre in a residential or agricultural zone, and you may keep up to 12 female chickens.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 12 female chickens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: permit from the Tabernacle Township Zoning Officer |
| Coop setback | Coop must meet side and rear setbacks for principal buildings and sit at least 60 ft from a neighboring home |
| Lot size | Min. 1/2 acre |
| Rule adopted | 2016 |
Good to know
- Roosters and cockerels are prohibited outright.
- The coop and run must be in the rear yard, no more than 60 square feet and 8 feet high, with a covered top.
- Keeping live chickens or their by-products for sale is not authorized by this rule.
- Droppings must be cleared from each coop weekly, and manure storage areas need a liner and must be 100 feet from state waters.
Source: Township of Tabernacle Code (eCode360), § 5-5.3.1, Standards for Keeping Chickens (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Tabernacle clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Burlington County towns
Building a coop in Township of Tabernacle?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across BurlingtonCounty 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.