[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces”][vc_column el_class=”w-100″][vc_single_image image=”633″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uJTIwZC1tZC1ibG9jayUyMGQtc20tYmxvY2slMjIlM0UlMEElM0NoMSUzRVJlc2lsaWVudCUyMEVudmlyb25tZW50cyUyMGFuZCUyMExhbmRzY2FwZXMlM0MlMkZoMSUzRSUwQSUzQ3AlM0UlM0NlbSUzRVVwZGF0ZWQlMjBKYW51YXJ5JTIwMjAlMkMlMjAyMDI2JTNDJTJGZW0lM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNFJTBBJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”35″ content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1768937427293{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=””]

On January 20, 2026, the Department adopted the REAL rule amendments, incorporating the August 2024 proposal and the July 2025 Notice of Substantial Change. The Coastal Zone Management rules, the  Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act rules, the Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, and the Stormwater Management rules were significantly amended by this adoption and courtesy copies of these rules, incorporating the amendments, may be found on the WLM Rules page. 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Copy of REAL Adoption (1/20/2026)” color=”info” size=”lg” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-solid fa-copy” css=”” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fnjreal%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F222%2Freal_adoption_courtesy.pdf|target:_blank”][vc_btn title=”Flood Hazard Area Technical Manual (1/20/2026)” color=”info” size=”lg” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-regular fa-file-pdf” css=”” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fwlm%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F108%2Fdownloads%2Ffha%2Ffh_044.pdf|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”3″ css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”35″ content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1768937427293{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=””]The amended rules contain several regulations to allow certain applications to be reviewed under the previous regulations for 180 days after REAL’s adoption (referred to as “legacy” provisions).  That legacy period expires on July 20, 2026. The Department is providing a guidance document explaining the rules’ legacy provisions in the Guide for Determining Which Rule Version Applies to Your Project. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Guide For Determining Which Rule Version Applies to Your Project” color=”info” size=”lg” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-solid fa-copy” css=”” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fnjreal%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F222%2Freal-legacy-provisions-1.20.26-rev2.pdf|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”3″ css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”35″][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1769027196802{margin-bottom: -10px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”]

Message from
Former Commissioner Shawn LaTourette
on REAL

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/P_nRJOtyXlA” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1744306720362{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”50px” el_class=”d-none d-lg-block”][vc_column_text css=””]

With the REAL– Resilient Environments and Landscapes – reforms, New Jersey is the first state in the nation to initiate a comprehensive update of land resource protection regulations focused on impacts of a changing climate.

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”7″ css_animation=”appear” css=”” accent_color=”#39BDC7″][vc_column_text css=””]

NJDEP modernized land resource protection rules to better support New Jersey communities, residents, and businesses in building their resilience to sea-level rise, extreme weather, chronic flooding, and other impacts of our changing climate.
Almost two-thirds of New Jersey’s coastline is already at high or very high risk to coastal erosion and 98% of the coastline is projected at medium or very high risk to sea level rise. Over half a million acres of New Jersey land are highly vulnerable to coastal hazards.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”110px” el_class=”d-none d-lg-block”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”35″ equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
FLOOD INSURANCE
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/HoRj5felsUc” css=”.vc_custom_1744378078831{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules do not impact flood insurance mapping or require people to obtain flood insurance. Federal flood insurance rates are set by FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Only FEMA can amend or alter these maps. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
REBUILDING AFTER FLOODS
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/BBpQDlcO4vo” css=”.vc_custom_1744378090525{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules will not prevent or discourage redevelopment after a storm. The REAL rules instead protect life and property by requiring resilient design and construction in zones that will be inundated in the future.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
INFRASTRUCTURE
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/LN5NtngGiL0″ css=”.vc_custom_1744378101740{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules will ensure that new and redeveloped buildings and infrastructure are safer for current and future residents, business owners and first responders, and that water quality, which is critical for recreation, fishing and industry, is improved.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”110px” el_class=”d-none d-lg-block”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”35″ equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/RfUXqE3mJEE” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1744378114388{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules do not prohibit any type of development.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/odpQhk9nBWw” css=”.vc_custom_1744378125749{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules make affordable housing developments safer and more resilient. Investing in resilience measures, such as elevation, represents a marginal cost that pays high dividends in terms of reducing flood insurance costs and potential for loss of life and property throughout the lifetime of a structure, and helps avoid disruption to business and the community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

How will
URBAN REVITALIZATION
be impacted by the rules?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/T4JoYXkyyQw” css=”.vc_custom_1744378137701{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]The REAL rules increase the resilience of our urban communities and improve water quality. For too long, these often overburdened areas of the state have been plagued by flooding and poor water quality because they were developed before protective standards existed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

REAL:
True or
False?

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/jF3TgHdPSj0″ css=”.vc_custom_1744378149369{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #39BDC7 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]Because misinformation is real, even for REAL, test your knowledge with true or false.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]