Can you keep chickens in Township of Upper, NJ?
Yes, up to six egg laying chickens, as long as they stay on your property. Roosters are not permitted.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 egg laying chickens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Not specified for the six-hen allowance; birds must be contained on the property |
| Lot size | No minimum stated |
| Rule adopted | Aug 2021 |
Good to know
- The six-hen allowance sits in the zoning definition of residential agriculture.
- It is written as an exception to the two-acre minimum that applies to agricultural commercial structures and uses.
- Chickens must be contained upon the property.
- Roosters are not permitted.
Source: Township of Upper Code (eCode360), § 20-2.1, Definitions of Township Wide Application, "Residential Agriculture" (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Upper clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Cape May County towns
Building a coop in Township of Upper?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Cape MayCounty 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.