NJ chicken rules · Warren County
Can you keep chickens in Borough of Washington, NJ?
Washington Borough allows hens (no roosters) on 1-to-4-family residential lots with a license, a waste-management plan, and zoning approval, capped at 6 birds on lots up to 2.99 acres.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 6 poultry on lots up to 2.99 acres; 4 per acre on 3.0–3.99 acres |
| Roosters | Prohibited (poultry is defined to exclude males) |
| Permit | Required (Borough Clerk license + filed waste-management plan + zoning approval; $15/year) |
| Coop setback | Poultry enclosure at least 30 ft from any dwelling on another property |
| Lot size | No minimum to keep poultry (1-to-4-family residential lots only); other farm animals need 4+ acres |
Good to know
- Enclosure sizing at least 3 sq ft per chicken; free-ranging only inside a 4-ft fence, otherwise a predator-proof run of 10 sq ft per bird.
- Slaughter of any regulated animal is prohibited.
- Not allowed on multifamily, commercial, or public property. This is the Borough, distinct from Washington Township.
Source: Borough of Washington (Warren Co.) Code, Ch. 35A (eCode360), §§ 35A-1, 35A-2, 35A-4 — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Washington clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Borough of Washington?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across WarrenCounty 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.