New Jersey adopts 2024 construction codes, leaving six months to file under the old ones
New building, energy, electrical and plumbing codes took effect August 17, 2026; complete permit applications may use the prior codes during a six-month grace period reported to end February 17, 2027.
Builders and design teams with New Jersey projects still on the drawing board have a limited window to file permit applications under the codes they designed to. The Department of Community Affairs (“DCA”) adopted amendments to N.J. Admin. Code §§ 5:23-3.14 to -3.22, effective August 17, 2026 (R.2026 d.086), bringing the 2024 International Building, Residential and Energy Conservation Codes, ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2022, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2024 National Standard Plumbing Code into the Uniform Construction Code, the statewide building code. The rules were proposed at 57 N.J.R. 2354(a) (Oct. 20, 2025) and adopted July 15, 2026 by Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez.
R.2026 d.086, N.J. Admin. Code §§ 5:23-3.14 to -3.22 (eff. Aug. 17, 2026), proposed at 57 N.J.R. 2354(a) (Oct. 20, 2025); R.2026 d.087; R.2026 d.088; N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-1.6