What is NJ REAL?
NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette has proposed new rules that will increase construction and elevation mandates, imposing stricter permitting thresholds. These changes will significantly impact homeowners, businesses, and municipalities in Ocean County coastal communities and create an unbearable financial burden on working families, retirees, and small businesses. Homeowners may be forced to spend thousands of dollars to comply or risk the ability to insure their home.
The proposed NJ REAL rules will significantly expand flood zones by using future climate projections rather than historical FEMA data, placing inland towns, river communities, and suburban neighborhoods into “flood risk” categories. This shift will raise insurance premiums, lower property values, and reduce municipal revenues, forcing towns to increase property taxes to maintain essential services like schools, police, and fire departments. Because insurance companies spread risk statewide, all New Jersey homeowners and renters would face higher premiums, not just those in flood zones. At the same time, schools, hospitals, roads, and emergency facilities would face costly compliance with new elevation and storm water standards, funded by state and local taxes. Businesses, developers, and nonprofits would see higher construction and permitting costs, which ultimately drive up rents, prices, and limit affordable housing. Municipalities would also bear the cost of hiring staff to manage new permitting requirements. The immediate effect will be a heavy financial burden on taxpayers through higher taxes, insurance costs, and overall cost of living.
NJ REAL isn’t about protecting the Shore.
It affects every taxpayer in New Jersey—from higher property taxes to rising insurance rates, to increased costs for schools, businesses, and community services.
If you pay taxes in New Jersey, you will pay for NJ REAL.
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