Environmental Rules in Newark, NJ (2026)
6 verified environmental rules for Newark, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Newark regulates stormwater runoff from new construction under Chapter 41:17 of the Revised General Ordinances. Major and minor developments that disturb 1,000 or more square feet of impervious surface must control runoff quantity, recharge groundwater, and remove 80% of suspended solids before discharge, enforced by the Department of Engineering.
Newark Stormwater Management Standards
Some RestrictionsNewark Revised General Ordinances § 41:17-4-7(2)(a), (4)
Stormwater management measures shall be designed to reduce the post-construction load of total suspended solids (TSS) in stormwater runoff generated from the water quality design storm as follows: Eighty percent removal of the anticipated load, expressed as an annual average shall be achieved for the stormwater runoff from the net increase of motor vehicle surface. ... The water quality design ...
Erosion Control
Newark requires a soil erosion and sediment control permit from the Director of Engineering before any land-disturbing activity of 5,000 square feet or more, under Title XXVIII of the Revised General Ordinances. Section 28:4-2 bars issuing a Newark Uniform Construction Code permit until the applicant secures the erosion control permit first.
Newark Soil Erosion Control Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsNewark Revised General Ordinances § 28:4-2
Upon compliance with all aforementioned requirements and upon payment of all fees required hereunder, the Director of the Department of Engineering shall issue a permit to the applicant, with or without conditions. Each permit shall prescribe a reasonable schedule for all work to be completed thereunder. No permit shall be issued for a land disturbing activity, including, but not limited to, bu...
Coastal Development
In Newark's designated coastal high hazard areas and Coastal A Zones along the tidal Passaic River and Newark Bay, City Code requires new buildings to sit landward of the mean high tide line and bars manufactured homes outright except in an existing mobile home park.
Newark Coastal High Hazard Building Rules
Significant RestrictionsCity of Newark Code § 12:4-9, § 12:4-9.1
§ 12:4-9. COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA AND COASTAL A ZONE. Coastal high hazard areas (V or VE Zones) and coastal A Zones are located within the areas of special flood hazard established in Section 12:2-3. These areas have special flood hazards associated with high velocity waters from tidal surges and hurricane wave wash; therefore, the following provisions shall apply. § 12:4-9.1. Location of Stru...
Flood Zones
Any construction, filling, grading or manufactured-home placement inside a Newark special flood hazard area needs a local development permit before work begins, under Title XII, Section 12:3-1 of the City Code. The Director of Engineering, acting as Flood Control Compliance Officer, must certify compliance before the Central Permit Office, Central Planning Board or Board of Adjustment issues the permit, and building without one is a misdemeanor.
Newark Floodplain Development Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsNewark City Code § 12:3-1 (Development Permit)
This Title shall establish and maintain a local development permitting system to determine whether such proposed construction or other is reasonably safe from flooding. A local development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins, including placement of manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 12:2-3 of this Title. ... The perm...
Heat Island Mitigation
Newark's Green Building, Sustainability, and Resiliency Standards ask developers seeking subdivision or site plan approval to specify a high-reflectance 'cool roof' with a minimum Solar Reflectance Index of 82 initial and 64 aged, or a vegetative green roof, to cut rooftop heat absorption citywide.
Newark's Cool Roof Design Guideline for Buildings
Light RestrictionsNewark Revised General Ordinances § 41:16-13-2 (Green Building, Sustainability, and Resiliency Standards, Roof Design)
§ 41:16-13-2. Roof Design. 1. Specify a high-reflectance roof (cool roof). High-reflectance low-sloped roofs should have an initial Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of at least 82 and an aged SRI of at least 64. Steep sloped roofs with pitches greater than 2:12 should have an initial SRI of 39 and an aged SRI of 32. 2. Specify a vegetative roof (green roof) using native or adaptive plant species.
Flood Elevation Requirements
New residential construction and substantial improvements in Newark's A, AE, AO or AH flood zones must have the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation shown on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map, under Section 12:4-6.1 of the City Code. Nonresidential buildings can meet the same freeboard by elevating, or instead by floodproofing, under Section 12:4-6.2.
Newark Base Flood Elevation Freeboard Standard
Some RestrictionsNewark City Code § 12:4-6.1 (Residential Construction)
New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure located in an A, AE, AO or AH zone shall have the lowest floor, including basement together with the attendant utilities (including all electrical, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other service equipment) and sanitary facilities, elevated at or above the more restrictive of the following: ... For A or AE zones:...
Looking for Essex County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Newark city rules.
Environmental Rules in Essex County →