Can you keep chickens in Township of Toms River, NJ?
Only in one zone. Toms River allows up to six chickens and no roosters for personal use, but only in the Rural Residential Zone, where the minimum lot is one acre.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 chickens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Coop for fewer than 100 birds: 50 feet from front, side and rear lines |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
Good to know
- Animals are a permitted use in any residential zone, but the keeping of poultry for personal use is limited to the Rural Residential Zone.
- Animals may not be kept for commercial use.
- The Rural Residential Zone has a minimum lot area of 43,560 square feet.
- The R-800 and R/C-3 Conservation Residential zones separately list farm and agriculture activities, including poultry raising, as permitted uses.
Source: Township of Toms River Code (eCode360), § 348-5.24, Animals; § 348-10.5, Rural Residential Zone (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Toms River clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of Toms River?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across OceanCounty 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.