Housing (Affordable Housing) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 531: Establishes "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission."

This bill creates a temporary seven-member "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission" to examine New Jersey's affordable housing policies. The commission, including the head of the state housing agency and members appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor, will study past housing practices, analyze population trends and housing needs, and gather public input over a one-year period. It must produce a final report with recommendations for municipalities and state agencies on meeting legal affordable housing requirements before expiring. The commission itself does not enact policy - it only studies existing obligations and provides findings to guide future decisions.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 202: Repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act."

This bill repeals New Jersey's "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act" and redirects its previously collected fees into the newly established "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund." The fund will receive money from the repealed fee system, municipal development trust funds, and other dedicated housing funds. It will finance specific affordable housing projects - including rehabilitation, accessory dwelling units, and conversions for low- and moderate-income households - in municipalities with approved housing plans or receiving state aid. The bill requires projects to be certified by municipal governing bodies and ensures housing units remain affordable for qualifying households.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 224: Establishing veterans' affordable housing preference; authorizing bonus fair share credit for veterans' affordable housing.

This New Jersey bill requires municipalities to reserve at least 50% of affordable housing units in new developments for veterans who served in time of war or other emergency, as defined by state law. It mandates that veterans applying within the first 90 days of a project's marketing period receive priority for these units, with remaining units then open to the general public. After the initial 120-day marketing period, veterans are placed on a special waiting list to maintain the 50% reservation as units become available. The bill adds this veterans' preference to existing affordable housing requirements without altering the overall fair share obligations for low and moderate income housing.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1412: "Neighborhood Protection and Housing Affordability Act"; prohibits short-term rental of transient accommodations in exclusively residential zones unless authorized by municipality.

This bill prohibits short-term rentals (like Airbnb) in exclusively residential zones unless a municipality specifically authorizes them. It directly affects property owners in residential neighborhoods and gives local governments authority to regulate such rentals through zoning. Municipalities can allow short-term rentals on up to 25% of their land area, but cannot permit them in zones zoned solely for long-term residential use. The law defines "transient accommodations" to exclude hotels, dorms, and leases longer than 90 days, while requiring rentals through platforms like Airbnb to comply with local rules. It aims to preserve housing supply and affordability by limiting short-term conversions of residential units.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 433: Enhances access to certain foreclosure counseling services.

This bill requires mortgage lenders in New Jersey to provide homeowners facing foreclosure with detailed written notices that include specific information about free housing counseling services. The notice must clearly explain the homeowner's right to access free counseling through the Foreclosure Mediation Program and list resources like the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. It mandates that notices include contact details for local legal aid, the municipal affordable housing liaison (if applicable), and programs offering financial assistance to cure defaults. The law directly affects residential mortgage debtors and lenders, ensuring homeowners receive timely guidance to potentially avoid losing their homes. These changes amend existing foreclosure procedures under P.L.1995, c.244 and P.L.2019, c.64.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Mortgages

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3024: Restricts certain affordable housing eligibility to certain State residents and certain individuals with employment history in the State.

This bill restricts eligibility for new affordable housing units and the state's rental assistance program to households where at least one member has either lived in New Jersey for two consecutive years or worked in the state 35+ hours per week for two consecutive years. It applies to new contractual guarantees or deed restrictions for low/moderate-income housing and updates the state rental assistance program to require these same residency or work history criteria. The key mechanism requires housing providers and the state program to verify these specific residency or employment requirements at the time of application. This affects new affordable housing developments and applicants for state rental aid, but does not change existing housing or programs.

Topics ✗ Housing ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 467: Requires certain local government community benefit agreements dedicate resources for affordable housing purposes.

This bill requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to dedicate at least 50% of cash payments exceeding $100,000 from community benefits agreements toward affordable housing. It directly affects local governments entering such agreements with developers for commercial or residential projects, mandating that half the payment fund low- or moderate-income housing as defined by existing law. Community benefits agreements - binding deals where developers pay for community benefits in exchange for project approvals - must now allocate these funds specifically to housing creation or rehabilitation. The bill applies to all such agreements entered after its effective date, redirecting developer payments toward addressing local housing needs. It does not create new housing programs but ensures a portion of existing developer payments supports affordable housing.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1836: Requires green building standards and impact studies for carbon, traffic, storm water, and schools for certain affordable housing development.

This bill requires developers of new affordable housing projects (10+ units or 4+ stories) to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. It also mandates that these developers submit four impact studies to local municipalities before construction: traffic, school, storm water, and carbon (if clearing over one acre of land). The requirements apply to "inclusionary developments" as defined under existing law and do not affect projects with applications submitted before the bill's effective date. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt implementing rules within eight months of enactment.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Building Codes Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4136: Establishes five-year housing advisory plan.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to create and update a five-year housing advisory plan. It directly affects all state residents, with specific focus on homeless and near-homeless individuals and vulnerable populations. The plan must assess housing market trends, identify needs across income groups, inventory affordable housing supply, track progress toward meeting needs, and pinpoint regulatory barriers to affordable housing development. The department must submit the initial plan to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability within 18 months of enactment, with updated versions every five years thereafter.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3825: Requires COAH to credit municipalities with units against fair share affordable housing obligation for certain types of housing; provides certain types of affordable housing units will be credited as two units.

This bill (A 3825) amends New Jersey's affordable housing law to require the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to count certain existing affordable housing units as *two units* toward a municipality's fair share obligation. It directly affects municipalities that have built or rehabilitated qualifying low- and moderate-income housing units between April 1, 1980, and December 15, 1986. The key provision allows these units to be credited at a 2:1 ratio (instead of 1:1) when calculating whether a municipality meets its state-mandated affordable housing requirement. This change aims to reduce the housing obligation for municipalities that already developed qualifying affordable units during that specific timeframe.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

All housing bills