Can you keep chickens in Township of Waterford, NJ?
Yes on residential lots of half an acre or more, up to 12 chickens or ducks depending on lot and coop size. A free permit from the Municipal Clerk is required and roosters are banned.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 12 chickens or ducks |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: permit from the Municipal Clerk, no fee |
| Coop setback | 25 feet from side and rear property lines, rear yard only |
| Lot size | Min. 0.5 acres |
| Rule adopted | 2023 |
Good to know
- The table covers properties from 0.5 acres up to less than 5 acres.
- Coop size scales with flock size, from 6 square feet for 1 to 3 birds up to 24 square feet for 12.
- No free-range birds; all coops and runs must be fully fenced and roofed.
- Owners must tell the Animal Control Officer within 10 days of a rapid die-off.
Source: Township of Waterford Code (eCode360), § 176-48C, Animals (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Township of Waterford clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Camden County towns
Building a coop in Township of Waterford?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across CamdenCounty 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.