Can you keep chickens in White Township, NJ?
Only as part of a farm operation. The zoning code allows raising poultry in the R-1 district on properties of 5 acres or more, not counting the land needed for the house, and does not list backyard chickens as a use on smaller lots.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | No stated limit (farm use on 5+ acres) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Not specified |
| Coop setback | Poultry housing not within 50 ft of a residential property line |
| Lot size | Min. 5 acres, exclusive of the lot area needed for a dwelling |
Good to know
- Customary farming, including raising poultry, is a permitted principal use in the R-1 district on 5+ acres.
- The N-C, C-C, H-D, O-B, IL and I districts also allow farming "as permitted by § 160-128A".
- The R-1 district prohibits any use not listed; the only animal accessory use listed is shelters for domestic pets up to 50 sq ft.
- No separate chicken or poultry section was found in the health or animal chapters (searched poultry, chickens, fowl, hens, livestock).
Source: White Township Code (eCode360), § 160-128, R-1 District permitted uses (view the ordinance)
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district; always confirm the current rules with the White Township clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in White Township?
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.
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.