Atlantic County, NJ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- N.J.A.C. 7:8 stormwater rules
- Land Trigger
- One acre disturbed
- Impervious Trigger
- Quarter-acre impervious surface
- TSS Removal
- 80 percent required
- Oversight
- NJDEP and municipal MS4
Summary
New Jersey's Stormwater Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8, govern every Atlantic 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.
"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 March 2, 2021; or 4. A combination of 2 and 3 above that totals an area of one-quarter acre or more.
Full Breakdown
Across Atlantic County, from Atlantic City, Ventnor, and Brigantine on the barrier islands to Galloway, Hamilton, and Egg Harbor Township inland, N.J.A.C. 7:8 sets the stormwater rules municipalities adopt and enforce. A major development triggers them: disturbing one acre or more, or creating a quarter-acre or more of regulated impervious or motor-vehicle surface. Such projects must control runoff so post-construction flows into Absecon Bay, Great Egg Harbor Bay, the Mullica River, and the Atlantic do not increase peak rates, must recharge groundwater, and must remove 80 percent of post-construction total suspended solids, generally through green infrastructure. In the Pinelands towns, the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan imposes even tighter runoff and water-quality standards. NJDEP oversees the program alongside municipal MS4 permits.
Violations & Fines
Building a major development without an approved stormwater management plan violates the municipal stormwater ordinance and N.J.A.C. 7:8, drawing stop-work orders, NJDEP enforcement, and mandatory retrofits of the drainage system.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does an Atlantic County project need a stormwater plan?
What standards must the plan meet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlantic County
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