The NJ Department of Environmental Protection adopted the Resilient Environment and Landscapes (REAL) rule amendments, incorporating the August 2024 proposal and the July 2025 Notice of Substantial Change.
Significant changes were made to the Coastal Zone Management rules, the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act rules, the Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, and the Stormwater Management rules.
The scope is significant and will affect many aspects of coastal, stormwater, and flood hazard practice across the state. The AIA NJ Codes and Standards committee chair, Robert Longo, AIA, has prepared the following executive brief summarizing key changes and practical impacts for architectural practice. It highlights, among other things, the climate-adjusted flood elevation standards, the new inundation risk zone, and the expanded stormwater “major development” triggers that now include certain reconstruction activities.
The Department has published these amendments on its website; we encourage you to review them by clicking here: WLM Rules page.
January 20, 2026, Executive Brief (Click to Read):
