Housing (Property Development) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1045: Requires State to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to obligations for development of low- and moderate-income housing units.

This bill requires New Jersey to annually pay municipalities $75,000 for each low- or moderate-income housing unit they commit to providing, as certified through their housing plans under the Fair Housing Act (P.L.1985, c.222). It directly affects municipalities that comply with state affordable housing obligations, addressing their unfunded infrastructure costs (like roads, schools, and water systems) tied to housing development. Payments are deposited into a dedicated Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund and distributed equally over 10 years per housing obligation round, starting in 2026. Funds can cover infrastructure planning, compliance costs, or operational/capital expenses for public facilities affected by affordable housing projects.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 18, 2026

S 1766: Authorizes conversion of certain office parks and retail centers to mixed-use developments.

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.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 942: Concerns UEZ assistance fund expenses by specifically including certain property acquisition under definition of "qualified assistance fund expense."

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.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Property Development Tags Economic Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 376: Prohibits condemnation of farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production for purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production.

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.

Topics ✗ Housing

Sub-Topics Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2656: Requires developers of residential housing to provide low, moderate, and middle income housing or pay fee.

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.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 1786: Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related regulations.

This bill (S 1786) establishes statewide rules to encourage accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary housing units on the same lot as a primary home - across New Jersey. It requires municipalities with low population density (<9,000 people per square mile) to permit ADUs by default, while denser areas must have already adopted ADU-friendly zoning by 2025. Key provisions include mandating ADUs be at least 300 square feet with full living facilities, restricting them to personal use (not rental income), and allowing them only on lots zoned for single-family or two-family homes. The bill directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs, local governments updating zoning, and residents potentially gaining access to more affordable housing options.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 2960: Establishes certain State funding preferences for municipalities that enhance opportunities to develop housing.

This bill (S 2960) creates state funding preferences for New Jersey municipalities that adopt zoning changes to encourage denser residential development. It requires municipalities to review and update their master plans and development regulations to include specific housing strategies - such as allowing accessory dwelling units, reducing parking requirements, permitting multi-unit buildings in commercial zones, or increasing density near transit - before qualifying for preferential treatment. Municipalities that implement these changes will receive priority consideration for state grants and competitive financial assistance programs (like the Main Street New Jersey Program), as determined by the Department of Community Affairs. The bill applies to all municipalities that amend their regulations to increase permitted housing units, with funding preferences taking effect once the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2458: Adjusts method of determining regional need for affordable housing; permits timeline extension for municipalities to determine and plan for adjusted fair share obligations based on revisions to regional need.

S 2458 adjusts how New Jersey municipalities calculate their regional affordable housing needs under the Fair Housing Act. It changes the method to base "prospective need" on certified new residential housing units created (excluding replacements), rather than previous approaches. This bill directly affects all New Jersey municipalities required to meet affordable housing obligations, giving them extended timelines to revise their plans based on the new calculation method. The change aims to align housing requirements with realistic development patterns, as highlighted in recent court decisions. The bill amends 1985 and 2024 housing laws to implement this data-driven approach.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1823: Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan.

This bill (S 1823) clarifies and updates requirements for two key parts of New Jersey municipalities' master plans: the land use plan and housing plan. It mandates that land use plans adopted after specific dates must include climate change hazard vulnerability assessments (analyzing risks like flooding and sea-level rise) and address electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The housing plan element must now evaluate existing housing stock, project future needs for 10 years, and explicitly consider affordable housing availability. These changes directly affect all New Jersey municipalities required to maintain master plans, ensuring their planning processes address climate resilience and modern infrastructure needs.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Climate Change Land Use Property Development Zoning Electric Vehicles

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2928: "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act"; promotes equitable residential development throughout State.

S 2928, "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act," modifies zoning rules in New Jersey municipalities to encourage residential development near transit and commercial corridors. It requires municipalities with transit stations to remove minimum parking requirements and use variances for mixed-use or multi-unit developments meeting specific criteria: at least 15 dwelling units per acre, 50% lot area served by water/sewer infrastructure, and location within a half-mile of a transit station. For municipalities without transit stations, it allows similar developments in high-density areas (500+ people/sq mile or 7,500+ population) within a quarter-mile of a main street corridor. The bill also mandates 65-day approval timelines for qualifying projects and voids non-compliant zoning rules if municipalities fail to update ordinances within six months.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

All housing bills