Can you keep chickens in Township of Upper Freehold, NJ?
Only on larger lots. Upper Freehold allows buildings for keeping poultry when they are accessory to a permitted farm, and a farm has to be at least five acres, or six acres if there is a house on it. Any poultry shelter must sit at least 75 feet from every property line.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | 75 ft from any property line or any dwelling on the same lot |
| Lot size | Min. 5 acres, or 6 acres with a house on the lot |
Good to know
- The 75 foot shelter setback sits in the exceptions that apply across all zoning districts (§ 35-402D).
- Buildings for keeping permitted poultry and livestock are listed as accessory uses only when accessory to a permitted farm use (§ 35-405B.4).
- The animal control chapter defines a domestic animal as any cat, dog or livestock other than poultry (§ 5-10.1).
- The Township has a Right to Farm chapter (Ch. 23) and a matching zoning section (§ 35-605).
Source: Upper Freehold Township Code (eCode360), § 35-402D, Poultry And Livestock Shelters (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Upper Freehold clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Monmouth County towns
AberdeenAsbury ParkAtlantic HighlandsBelmarBradley BeachBrielleColts NeckEatontownFair HavenFreeholdHazletHighlandsHolmdelHowellKeansburgKeyportLittle SilverLong BranchManalapanManasquanMarlboroMatawanMiddletownMillstoneNeptuneOceanOceanportRed BankRumsonShrewsburySpring Lake HeightsTinton FallsUnion BeachWallWest Long Branch
Building a coop in Township of Upper Freehold?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MonmouthCounty 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.