Can you keep chickens in Township of West Windsor, NJ?
West Windsor has no backyard-chicken ordinance; keeping fowl is treated purely as a farm use permitted only on lots of at least 5 acres, with poultry buildings set 200 feet from every property line, so ordinary backyard hens aren't allowed.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | No per-bird count; governed by the 5-acre threshold |
| Roosters | Not addressed |
| Permit | No chicken license; agricultural use governed by zoning |
| Coop setback | No building sheltering fowl within 200 ft of any property line |
| Lot size | Farm and agricultural uses only on a lot of at least 5 acres |
| Ducks | Not allowed (same rule as chickens) |
Good to know
- The only fowl rules in the code are agricultural (accessory-structure and right-to-farm zoning provisions).
- A 2022 zoning-board discussion floated treating a few chickens as pets, but no such small-lot allowance is in the code; confirm with the township.
What about ducks?
Only on 5 acres or more. West Windsor's farm rules apply to 'fowl of any kind,' so ducks face the same 5-acre minimum and 200-foot setback for shelters as chickens.
§ 200-226B; § 200-146: "No building or structure used for shelter or enclosure of fowl, game, horses, farm livestock or adult dogs shall be closer to any property line than 200 feet." Duck coops we build.
We build across Mercer County
Township of West Windsor doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Mercer County and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
Chicken rules in nearby Mercer County towns
Compare them side by side in the Mercer County table.
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.