Can you keep chickens in Borough of Wharton, NJ?
Yes, with a zoning permit. Hens are allowed on single-family lots under 5 acres, from 5 hens on a 5,000 sq ft lot up to a maximum of 12 hens on 12,000 sq ft or more, and roosters are not allowed.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | 5 to 12 hens, based on lot size |
| Roosters | Prohibited on lots under 5 acres |
| Permit | Required: zoning permit, then a $25 annual license from the Borough Clerk |
| Coop setback | Rear yard only; at least 7 ft from the property line and 30 ft from any neighboring dwelling |
| Lot size | Min. 5,000 sq ft for 5 hens, plus 1,000 sq ft per additional hen |
Good to know
- The permit application needs proof of a poultry-keeping class and proof of pest control from a certified professional.
- Coop needs at least 3 sq ft per bird, with an attached, fully enclosed run of at least 5 sq ft per bird; run fencing tops out at 6 ft.
- Renters need the owner's written permission, and the permit ends when the property sells or the tenant changes.
- No keeping chickens for meat or sale, and no slaughtering on the property. Droppings must be collected weekly.
- eCode360's main code page still shows the older 2023 version (10-hen cap); the linked May 2026 ordinance has the current numbers.
Source: Borough of Wharton, Ord. No. BOH O-01-26 (eCode360), § 343-41, Keeping of chickens on residential lots less than five acres, as amended by Ord. No. BOH O-01-26 (adopted May 13, 2026) (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the Borough of Wharton clerk or zoning office before you build.
Chicken rules in nearby Morris County towns
BoontonButlerChathamChester TownshipBorough of ChesterDenvilleDoverEast HanoverFlorham ParkHanoverHardingJeffersonKinnelonLincoln ParkLong HillMadisonMendham TownshipBorough of MendhamMine HillMontvilleTownship of MorrisMorris PlainsMorristownMount ArlingtonMount OliveMountain LakesNetcongParsippany-Troy HillsPequannockRandolphRiverdaleRockaway TownshipBorough of RockawayRoxburyWashington Township (Morris)
Building a coop in Borough of Wharton?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty 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.