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      Applicable to the Stormwater Management rules operational on January 20, 2026

The BMP chapters posted on this webpage shall be used for major developments subject to the Stormwater Management rules in effect on January 20, 2026 (1/20/2026 SWM rules) and the stormwater control ordinance(s) pursuant to thereof. Applicability of the rules to major developments is set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.6 of the adopted NJPACT amendment. For more Information regarding the applicability of the rules is also explained on the FAQs page.

For major developments subject to the Stormwater Management rules in effect on July 17, 2023, please visit the 2023 BMP Page.

Stormwater Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8 specify stormwater management standards that are mandatory for new major development. The New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (BMP manual) is developed to provide guidance to address the standards in the Stormwater Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8. The BMP Manual provides examples of ways to meet the standards contained in the rule. The methods referenced in the BMP manual are one way of achieving the standards. An applicant is welcome to demonstrate that other proposed management practices will also achieve the standards established in the rules. The BMP Manual was developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Nev Jersey Department of Transportation, municipal engineers, county engineers, consulting firms, contractors, and environmental organizations. 

The BMP manual has been drafted to assist review agencies and the regulated community. The methods in the BMP manual can be utilized without need for additional documentation to address the performance standards in the rule. The Department anticipates providing guidance on additional best management practices and new information on already included practices as research and development occurs in this field 

Future updates of the BMP Manual will be available through https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

2026 BMP Manual

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 1″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_1_final_-9-27-16.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 1: Impacts of Development on Runoff discusses the impact of development on the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 2″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_2-print.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 2: Low Impact Development Techniques provides information on how to use structural and nonstructural to provide lower-impact development.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 3″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/njswbmp-chapter-3-regional-and-municipal-stormwater-management-planning-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 3: Regional and Municipal Stormwater Management Plans presents guidance on the development of regional and municipal stormwater management plans. ***Updated January 2026***[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 4″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/njswbmp-chapter-4-stormwater-pollutant-removal-criteria-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 4: Stormwater Pollutant Removal Criteria provides guidance on how to meet the water quality performance standards. ***Updated January 2026***[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 5″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/njswbmp-chapter-5-stormwater-calculations-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 5: Stormwater Management Quantity and Quality Standards and Computations present the mathematical methods for the stormwater runoff rates, volumes, and the stormwater quality and quantity design storms.

• NOAA C & D distributions
• 1 minute WQDS rainfall distribution Curve Data

*** Updated January 2026***[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 6″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj-swbmp-chapter-6-july-2023.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter Six: Groundwater Recharge discusses the groundwater recharge methodology, the groundwater recharge design storm, and the details of the New Jersey Groundwater Recharge Spreadsheet (NJGRS).

• Download the NJGRS in Excel 2002 format
• Download the NJGRS in Excel 97 format

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 7″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_7.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter Seven: Landscaping provides information on vegetation and landscaping for stormwater management measures.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 8″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_8-print.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter Eight: Maintenance and Retrofit of Stormwater Management measures provides information to be included and considered in a maintenance plan, and discusses retrofit of stormwater management facilities.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” title=”Chapter 9″ targetlink=”true”]Chapter Nine: Provides general information on Green Infrastructure BMPs that may be used for Groundwater Recharge, Stormwater Runoff Quality, and/or Stormwater Runoff Quantity
*** Updated January 2026***

• Chapter 9.1: Cisterns
  • Cistern Analysis Spreadsheet
• Chapter 9.2: Dry Wells
• Chapter 9.3: Grass Swales
• Chapter 9.4: Green Roofs
• Chapter 9.5: Manufactured Treatment Devices (GI)
• Chapter 9.6: Pervious Paving Systems
• Chapter 9.7: Small-scale Bioretention Systems
• Chapter 9.8: Small-scale Infiltration Basins
• Chapter 9.9: Small-scale Sand Filters (GI)
• Chapter 9.10: Vegetative Filter Strips

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” title=”Chapter 10″ targetlink=”true”]Chapter 10: Provides general information on Green Infrastructure BMPs that may be used for Stormwater Runoff Quantity (or for Groundwater Recharge and/or Stormwater Runoff Quality with a Waiver or Variance from N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3)

*** Updated January 2026***

• Chapter 10.1: Bioretention Systems (large-scale)
• Chapter 10.2: Infiltration Basins (large-scale)
• Chapter 10.3: Sand Filters (large-scale GI)
• Chapter 10.4: Standard Constructed Wetlands
• Chapter 10.5: Wet Ponds (GI)  

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” title=”Chapter 11″ targetlink=”true”]Chapter 11: Provides general information on Non-GI BMPs that may be used for Groundwater Recharge, Stormwater Runoff Quality, and/or Stormwater Runoff Quantity only with a Waiver or Variance from N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3

*** Updated January 2026***

• Chapter 11.1: Blue Roofs 
• Chapter 11.2: Extended Detention Basins
• Chapter 11.3: Manufactured Treatment Devices (Non-GI)
• Chapter 11.4: Sand Filters (Non-GI)
• Chapter 11.5: Subsurface Gravel Wetlands
• Chapter 11.6 Wet Ponds (Non-GI)

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 12″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swmp_12.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 12: Soil Testing Criteria

• Download Chapter 12 Soil Testing Workbook

*** Updated March 2024 *** [/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 13″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj-swbmp-chapter-13-groundwater-mounding-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 13: Groundwater Table Hydraulic Impact Assessments for Infiltration BMPs

• Download Hantush Excel Spreadsheet

*** New January 2026*** [/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Chapter 14″ buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/njswbmp-chapter-14-volumetric-reduction-standards-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Chapter 14: Volumetric Reduction Standards

*** New January 2026***[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Appendix A (pdf)” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_a.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Appendix A: Low Impact Development Checklist provides information to assist reviewers and designers in the demonstration that nonstructural stormwater management measures have been implemented in a project.

• Download Appendix A in Word Format

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Appendix B” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/nj_swbmp_b.pdf” targetlink=”true”]Appendix B: Municipal Regulations Checklist provides information to assist municipalities in incorporating nonstructural stormwater management measures into the master plan, land use and zoning ordinances.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Appendix C (pdf)” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/bmp/njswbmp-appendix-c-model-swmp-january-2026.pdf” targetlink=”true” class=”“fas”]Appendix C: Sample Municipal Stormwater Management Plan provides an example as well as guidance on the municipal plan required to be developed by every municipality.

*** Updated January 2026***

• Download Appendix C in Word Format

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” targetlink=”true” class=”“fas”]Download Appendix D: Model Municipal Stormwater Control Ordinance for Municipalities provides a sample stormwater ordinance consistent with the requirements of the Stormwater Management Rules.

*** Updated January 2026***

• • NJ SWBMP Appendix D Model SCO January 2026 (PDF)
  • NJ SWBMP Appendix D Model SCO January 2026 (Word)
  • NJ SWBMP Appendix D Model SCO January 2026 -Strikethrough Version (PDF)
  • NJ SWBMP Appendix D Model SCO January 2026 -Strikethrough Version (Word)
  • NJ SWBMP D Simplified January 2026 (PDF)
  • NJ SWBMP D Simplified January 2026-Redlined (PDF)
  • NJ SWBMP D Simplified January 2026 (Word)

[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fa fa-regular fa-file-lines” buttontitle=”Meeting the GI Requirement Fact Sheet (pdf)” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/stormwater/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/meeting-the-gi-requirement-fact-sheet-2.pdf” targetlink=”true” class=”“fas”]Meeting the Green Infrastructure Requirement (N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3)

The amendments to the Stormwater Management rules that became operative March 2021 require that major development projects meet the groundwater recharge, stormwater runoff quality and quantity standards through the use of green infrastructure.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]