DIVISION OF CITY PLANNING

The Division of City Planning maintains a staff of licensed professional planners and trained experts who are responsible for comprehensively planning the rational development of land in the City.

For the more information, the Jersey City Open Data Portal website provides a variety of data including operational data, locations of municipal services or other landmarks, and a variety of other miscellaneous information related to City Planning like redevelopment plans, land use board agendas and maps. You may also download the latest official Zoning Map (dated 12.07.2022) here. And, please review the links and other menus below for additional information.

ADVISORIES
All questions to staff shall be emailed directly to that staff member or to the general City Planning email account.

Until further notice, all public meetings will be held virtually as video conferences with public access. To learn more, please scroll to sections below.

To submit an application for development to the Division of City Planning, follow the directions in the Application Instructions document.

All applications shall be submitted by email until further notice. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted or processed.
Jersey City Master Plan
Thank you for participating in the Master Plan process!

To view the final documents and presentations, please follow this link the City's official Master Plan webpage. The final documents are not the end of the planning process. These documents will frame planning discussions for the next 10 years. Any modifications to zoning following the adoption of these plans will undergo further public engagement.

Master Plan Logo

Over the course of nearly two years, our team has engaged residents and various City, County, and State agencies to develop updated Land Use and Open Space Elements. Simultaneously, a public visioning process was taking place to frame long term goals for Jersey City. This visioning process was utilized to shape the Land Use and Open Space element recommendations while tying in other elements of the Master Plan.

What is a Master Plan? Why is it important?
A master plan functions as a roadmap for the city’s future
A master plan describes how, why, where and when to build in the city
It provides an opportunity for us to look ahead, establish new visions and directions, set goals and map out plans for the future
Updated Stormwater Control Ordinance (2021)
In accordance with NJDEP's amended Stormwater Management Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8), Jersey City has adopted an updated Stormwater Control Ordinance (345-74), effective March 1st, 2021. The amendments replace the current requirement that major developments incorporate nonstructural stormwater management strategies to the "maximum extent practicable" with a requirement that green infrastructure be utilized to meet stormwater management standards. Jersey City's Stormwater Ordinance imposes a more stringent definition of major development and includes a new definition for minor development. These thresholds and other requirements can be found in the full ordinance here.
Cannabis FAQ, Instructions, and Standards
If you seeking to open a cannabis business in Jersey City please reference the linked FAQ, Instructions and Standards document. In this document, City staff seeks to provide you with information on how to seek and obtain local approvals while we all learn and respond to the legal framework under development at the State-level by the Cannabis Review Commission. First, are a list of frequently asked questions and answers with information and links about our local process. Following the FAQ are the standards and fees regarding Cannabis Businesses and Consumption Areas that were adopted by the City in August 2021. In the event that there are any inconsistencies between provisions of the State and local procedures detailed herein, please inform us. This industry in New Jersey is new and we are all learning as we proceed. That said, this document and our local procedures may change as necessary.
Master Plan Implementation
The Jersey City Master Plan was formally adopted in early 2022 and sets the land use framework and vision for the next 10 years. City Planning staff is not working to implement to the Master Plan recommendations.

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

Master Plan Implementation

Phase 1 Adopted - Ordinance 22-084 (in effect as of 11/2/2022)

Phase 1 of Master Plan Implementation was adopted. While these amendments are still pending codification on the City's digital ordinance website this Interim User Document for Ordinance 22-084 is available for general use.

Phase 2 Draft Zoning - Taking Public Comment

Phase 2 of Master Plan Implementation is in development. A Community Meeting via Zoom was held  February 1, 2023  and a recording of the meeting is published to youtube here. Following the meeting draft zoning will be published here on February 6th. City Planning will be taking public comment  through Mid-March.

 

DIGITAL AGENDAS AND PLANS FOR DOWNLOAD

Should you wish to access an agenda for a public meeting, please visit Jersey City's Calendar. Links to join the virtual meetings are provided on the agenda and on the Jersey City Calendar.
Agendas have hyperlinks to digital plans, reports and other materials for all applications to be presented by the boards or commissions. Within the agenda, click on a link  for the case you wish to review. Alternatively, you can search by address or case number to review digital plans at the Jersey City Data Portal. Plans for cases will be made available on the portal after agendas are sunshined. 

If you wish to receive email notice of when staff publishes materials on the portal, create a username or login, navigate to the dataset you are interested in, and select the "follow" button to receive alerts.


VIRTUAL MEETING ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

The Jersey City Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Historic Preservation Commission are utilizing the service, Zoom, to conduct virtual meetings in compliance  with New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. If you have questions about how to access virtual meetings click here to review our Zoom Meeting Instructions. You may access meetings by clicking the correct link below at the scheduled date and time of the meeting you wish to attend.

Contact Info

 
STANDARDS, FORMS, MAPS AND LINKS

Rules and Regulations
Application Forms and Support Documents
Historic Preservation
The Historic Preservation Commission works to identify, record and protect buildings, sites, places, structures, objects or landscape features of significant historical, architectural, social and archaeological value.
Citizen Planner Course
Jersey City Division of City Planning has conducted several Citizen Planner Courses to share and educate anyone interested on a multitude of city planning topics. Email us to find out more information about future events.

Phase 2 Draft Zoning Meeting / Request for Public Comment



R-1 Recommendations Community Meeting