New Jersey Law Clarifies Local Housing Needs

Cities will be required to submit plans for creating sufficient affordable housing under a new state law.

1 minute read

March 25, 2024, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of Trenton, New Jersey with gold state capitol down in foreground and golden hour sky.

Trenton, New Jersey. | mandritoiu / Adobe Stock

A new approach to housing in New Jersey will give each municipality a clear standard for how many affordable housing units they need to build, reports Daniel C. Vock in Route Fifty.

The new law “will allow local governments to develop their own housing plans, with incentives to build places to live for older people and for people with disabilities. It would also encourage development near rail stations, particularly those close to New York.” If cities fail to produce adequate plans, residents or developers can sue to move forward with their own proposals — echoes of California’s ‘builder’s remedy.’

Governor Phil Murphy, who signed the law this week, said “This legislation will enable us to build new, affordable housing, where it is needed, with far fewer hurdles.”

Friday, March 22, 2024 in Route Fifty

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