New Jersey Passes Fair Housing Reform

A new law streamlines and clarifies the state’s affordable housing requirements for cities and towns.

1 minute read

April 10, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of New Jersey and New York City.

Dario Bajurin / Adobe Stock

The state of New Jersey enacted new legislation that reforms fair housing laws, according to a press release from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The new law, A-4/S-50, streamlines the process for determining each town’s affordable housing obligations, a requirement under the state’s Mount Laurel Doctrine. “Advocates believe this will provide more certainty for housing developers and reduce litigation-related delays to the construction of new affordable housing.”

The new law clarifies and codifies the methodology for how affordable housing obligations for each town are determined and “prohibits wealthy towns from paying their way out of their affordable housing obligations.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also signed several other housing bills last month, such as ACS for A-2267/SCS for S-1415, which calls for a new pilot program to support insurance premiums for affordable housing projects.

Monday, April 8, 2024 in National Low Income Housing Coalition

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square