This bill extends the deadline for developers to submit a temporary certificate of occupancy for certain projects under New Jersey's Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program from December 31, 2024, to June 30, 2032. It specifically affects developers of qualified residential projects or mixed-use parking projects that have applied for incentives under this program. The change modifies existing requirements in the grant program's rules without altering eligibility criteria, funding levels, or other program provisions. The extension provides additional time for project completion and compliance with the program's requirements.
This New Jersey bill (S 318) criminalizes three specific acts related to vacant dwellings: forcibly entering without permission to take residence ("housebreaking"), occupying without permission ("unlawful occupancy"), and reentering after a court-ordered eviction ("unlawful reentry"). All are classified as fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The law presumes occupants know they lack permission unless they have a notarized written rental agreement with the owner's current contact details. It directly affects property owners seeking to evict unauthorized occupants and occupants in vacant properties without documented authorization.
This bill allows municipalities to approve converting vacant or underused office parks and retail centers into mixed-use developments (combining housing, shops, and services) without requiring special zoning variances. It applies to properties meeting specific criteria: at least 50,000 sq ft for office parks or 15,000 sq ft for retail centers with 25%+ vacancy for 18+ months, plus evidence of active marketing efforts. Key requirements include dedicating at least 20% of new housing units to affordable tiers (with 50% low-income and 13% very-low income), ensuring multiple non-industrial uses, and complying with existing mixed-use zoning standards. The bill directly affects developers, property owners, and local planning boards by streamlining approvals for repurposing declining commercial properties.
This bill clarifies that property acquisition costs (such as buying land) can now be paid using funds from New Jersey's Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) assistance program. It amends the definition of "qualified assistance fund expense" to explicitly include purchasing, leasing, or acquiring land or property for eligible projects. The change affects businesses and municipalities in designated UEZs that use the assistance fund for development, making the fund's rules clearer without altering who qualifies or creating new programs.
This bill (S 208) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs (with input from Corrections) to create specific standards for publicly-funded transitional housing programs helping formerly incarcerated people reenter communities. The standards mandate safety measures, emergency and long-term housing options, and comprehensive support services - including substance abuse treatment, job training, medical care, and assistance securing permanent housing. It directly affects returning residents in transitional housing programs by setting minimum quality requirements for their care and housing. The bill, introduced in January 2026 and referred to committee, would establish these rules immediately upon enactment.
This bill allows religious and nonprofit organizations to convert their nonresidential properties into housing developments that include affordable units, directly affecting these organizations and local municipalities. It requires municipal planning boards to approve such conversions without needing special variances, provided at least 20% of residential units are reserved as very-low, low-, or moderate-income housing, with specific sub-requirements for income tiers. The bill also permits increased density (up to 40 units per acre) and building height (one story above standard limits) for these projects and makes them eligible for long-term tax exemptions under New Jersey’s tax law. These changes aim to streamline the creation of affordable housing on properties owned by qualifying organizations while maintaining state affordability standards.
This bill (S 2489) creates a state tax credit for developers who build affordable housing projects in designated "distressed neighborhoods" or "deep poverty pockets" in New Jersey. It directly affects developers constructing housing that meets federal low-income standards (affordable to households earning ≤50% of regional median income) within specific census tracts identified as economically distressed. The key mechanism provides a tax credit to offset development costs, targeting areas with high poverty (20%+ poverty rate) or low median family income (≤80% of state average). The credit applies to projects in designated distressed municipalities or specific zones like Garden State Growth Areas, with eligibility defined by the bill's new provisions. The bill amends existing state housing incentive law to add this tax credit mechanism.
This bill (S 725) allows New Jersey municipalities to acquire vacant, abandoned, or tax-delinquent properties more easily. It defines "abandoned" or "vacant" as property meeting at least four specific criteria (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or unoccupied for seasonal use), and gives municipalities two options: purchase the property at fair market value (minus unpaid taxes/liens) or use eminent domain. Property owners would receive compensation adjusted for outstanding municipal debts, and unclaimed funds would be held for one year before being treated as abandoned under state law. The bill aims to streamline property acquisition compared to existing laws like the Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act, directly affecting municipalities and property owners in blighted areas. It was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026.
This bill prohibits the use of eminent domain to take farmland actively used for farming or gardening (agricultural or horticultural production) if the government or entity seeking the land plans to develop it for non-farming purposes, such as housing or commercial projects. It directly affects farmers, landowners with active farmland, and government agencies or developers seeking to acquire such land. The key mechanism amends New Jersey's eminent domain law to block condemnation for non-farming development, requiring condemnors to first negotiate fairly and prove they cannot acquire the land through agreement. This change aims to protect existing farmland from being lost to development, aligning with state goals for farmland preservation. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
This bill requires developers building large residential projects (30+ units with high density) to reserve specific percentages of units for income-based housing: 5% very low income, 10% low income, 5% moderate income, and 5% middle income. Developers may instead pay a fee equal to 30% of the project cost (reduced to 25% for green-certified projects) to fund affordable housing through a municipal trust fund. All reserved housing units must remain affordable for at least 98 years, and municipalities must ensure at least 30% of these units are two-bedroom and 20% are three-bedroom. The fee funds either affordable housing development or community centers, depending on municipal choice. This directly affects developers of qualifying new housing projects in New Jersey.
