Perth Amboy, NJ Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 231 of the Perth Amboy City Code, Flood Damage Prevention, was amended in its entirety 7-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2037-2022. Read together with the flood provisions of the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) and the New Jersey Flood Hazard Area Control Act (N.J.A.C. 7:13), it forms the Floodplain Management Regulations of City of Perth Amboy. It applies to all proposed development in the flood hazard areas established in § 231-102. The reach is wide: subdivision of land, site improvements and installation of utilities, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, new construction, additions, substantial improvement and repair of substantial damage, tanks, temporary structures and storage, and certain building work exempt from permit under the Uniform Construction Code (§ 231-102.1).

The City of Perth Amboy was accepted for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program on December 18, 1979. Flood hazard areas come from layers of data. The effective Flood Insurance Study, Middlesex County, New Jersey (All Jurisdictions), dated July 6, 2010, and its FIRM panels are adopted by reference, with Table 102.2(1) listing panels 34023C 0066 through 0069, 0156 and 0157. Preliminary FEMA panels dated Jan. 1, 2014 and Jan. 30, 2015 must also be used where they give more detailed hazard information, higher flood elevations or larger flood hazard areas. State-regulated flood hazard areas run along every regulated water with a drainage area of 50 acres or greater, and the code lists State studied waters in the City including Spa Spring Creek and the Woodbridge River. Because the State standards are higher, the regulated area in New Jersey can be more expansive than the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and under § 231-101.9 the more restrictive rule governs any conflict between ordinances.

The maps and studies are on file at the Perth Amboy Zoning Officer, 375 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, N.J., 08861. The Zoning Officer is the Floodplain Administrator (§ 231-103.1), who reviews permit applications to determine whether development sits in a flood hazard area, interprets boundaries, and coordinates with the Construction Official. Even ordinary maintenance and minor work, such as non-structural replacement-in-kind of windows, doors, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, decks, roofing and flooring, is evaluated through the floodplain development permit under § 231-101.5. Approval of a development also waits on proof that necessary Federal or State permits, including section 404 of the Clean Water Act, have been granted (§ 231-103.6).