5 rules for unincorporated Somerset County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
New Jersey's Stormwater Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8, govern every Somerset County municipality. Any major development, disturbing one acre or more of land or creating a quarter-acre of new impervious surface, must meet state groundwater recharge, quantity, and quality standards.
N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.2
"Major development" means an individual "development," as well as multiple developments that individually or collectively result in: 1. The disturbance of one or more acres of land since February 2, 2004; 2. The creation of one-quarter acre or more of "regulated impervious surface" since February 2, 2004; 3. The creation of one-quarter acre or more of "regulated motor vehicle surface" since Mar...
Under New Jersey's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act, N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq., any project disturbing more than 5,000 square feet of surface area in Somerset County must receive a certified soil erosion and sediment control plan from the Somerset-Union Soil Conservation District before work begins.
N.J.S.A. 4:24-43
Any person proposing to engage in any project not requiring approval by the State, any county, municipality, or any instrumentality thereof shall, prior to commencing such project, receive certification by the local district of a plan for soil erosion and sediment control.
Somerset County sits in central New Jersey's Raritan River basin, roughly 30 miles inland from the Atlantic. It has no coast, tidal waters, dunes, or CAFRA zone, so coastal-development rules do not apply anywhere in the county.
New Jersey's Flood Hazard Area Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq., requires an NJDEP flood hazard area permit to build, fill, or disturb land in the flood hazard area or riparian zone of the Raritan, Millstone, and their tributaries across Somerset County.
N.J.S.A. 58:16A-55
The department is authorized to adopt, amend and repeal rules and regulations and to issue orders concerning the development and use of land in any delineated floodway which shall be designed to preserve its flood carrying capacity and to minimize the threat to the public safety, health and general welfare.
Grading and drainage in Somerset County is shaped by state law. Under the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 13:9B-1 et seq., a transition area up to 150 feet around a wetland acts as a sediment and stormwater control zone where earth-moving needs an NJDEP permit.
N.J.S.A. 13:9B-16
There shall be transition areas adjacent only to freshwater wetlands of exceptional resource value and of intermediate resource value. A transition area shall serve as: ... (2) A sediment and storm water control zone to reduce the impacts of development upon freshwater wetlands and freshwater wetlands species. ... The width of the transition area shall be determined by the department as follows...
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