Bayonne, NJ Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Bayonne's Chapter 29, Flood Hazard Prevention, governs every area of special flood hazard identified for the City of Bayonne, Community No. 340218, under the Flood Insurance Study for the City of Bayonne dated August 16, 2006, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps, covering panels 0092, 0093, 0094, 0103, 0111, 0112, 0113 and 0114. The FIS and maps are adopted by reference under Section 29-3.2 and kept on file with the Bayonne City Offices at 630 Avenue C. Before anyone builds, fills, extends or otherwise alters a structure or land inside one of these mapped zones, Section 29-4.1 requires a development permit from the Construction Official, who is designated under Section 29-4.2 to grant or deny applications.

The permit application must show, at minimum, the elevation of the lowest floor, including any basement, in relation to mean sea level, any floodproofing elevation, an engineer's or architect's certification for nonresidential floodproofing, and a description of any watercourse alteration or relocation. The Construction Official also checks that other required federal, state or local approvals are in hand and confirms whether the site sits in a floodway before a permit is issued. Chapter 29 is written as a floor, not a ceiling: Section 29-3.4 states that where this chapter and another ordinance, easement or deed restriction conflict, the more restrictive rule controls, and Section 29-3.5 directs that all of its provisions be read as minimum requirements construed in the City's favor.