Can you keep chickens in Borough of Westville, NJ?
Yes, but only through a pilot program: up to 8 hens with a $100 yearly license, on lots of at least 3,500 sq. ft., and only 10 licenses are issued.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Up to 8 hens |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Required: $100 annual license (pilot program, 10 licenses max) |
| Coop setback | 20 ft from neighboring homes; 5 ft side and rear buffer; rear yard only |
| Lot size | Min. 3,500 sq. ft. |
| Rule adopted | Nov 2025 |
| Ducks | Not addressed in the code |
Good to know
- The pilot program ends December 31 two years after adoption (11-24-2025) unless the council continues it; existing hens may stay but can't be replaced.
- Applicants must take an approved class on raising hens every year.
- Coops must be surrounded by a 6-ft fence and are inspected every six months.
- No slaughter, breeding or selling of eggs.
What about ducks?
Unclear. Westville's pilot program covers backyard chicken hens only, and the code does not mention keeping ducks. Ask the borough before getting ducks.
Ch. 91, Art. VI, §§ 91-43 to 91-46: "This article is a pilot program for the keeping of backyard chicken hens." Duck coops we build.
Building a coop in Borough of Westville?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across Gloucester County 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.
Chicken rules in nearby Gloucester County towns
Compare them side by side in the Gloucester 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.