Briefings
What changed in environmental, land-use and permitting rules for development in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania: what happened, who is affected and the next date that matters.
- MediumWindham County, CT
Connecticut Siting Council keeps Plainfield waste-to-energy petition on declaratory-ruling track; hearing October 22
The Council declined on October 1, 2026 to convert the 45-megawatt Plainfield petition into a full certificate case. The declaratory-ruling proceeding continues, with a remote hearing on October 22, 2026 and a decision deadline stated as August 2, 2027.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut bars leases that bill tenants for utilities their own unit meter does not measure
From October 1, 2026, Connecticut leases signed or renewed cannot make tenants pay utility charges unless a separate meter measures their unit's own use; such terms are unenforceable.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut gives special-act towns full zoning enforcement powers, including $2,500 civil penalties and injunctions
From October 1, 2026, towns that zone under special acts may use the general statute's orders, court fines, injunctions and civil penalties against zoning violations.
- HighConnecticut
Connecticut bars state solar approvals in towns above set land-area shares until July 2027
A temporary bar on Siting Council solar approvals in certain towns runs to July 1, 2027, and new emergency-contact and incident-reporting duties for generating facilities start October 1, 2026.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut requires apartment building owners to file elevator repair plans within 48 hours of outages
Since October 1, 2026, owners of Connecticut buildings with housing and an elevator must notify tenants of outages within 24 hours and file a contractor's repair plan with the town within 48.
- MediumFairfield County, CT
Connecticut grants contested hearing on Brookfield gas compressor expansion before air permits issue, groups report
State environmental regulators have granted a trial-type hearing on air permits for two new gas turbines at the Iroquois pipeline's Brookfield station, according to Save the Sound; no date is set.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut pauses required building code updates until 2030 models while its delayed 2026 code awaits approval
A law in force since October 1, 2026 lengthens the state's code update cycle, while the codes built on the 2024 model codes still lack legislative approval and an effective date.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut extends as-of-right accessory units to special-act towns and limits water company hookup charges
From October 1, 2026, towns that zone under special acts must allow one accessory dwelling unit as of right, and investor-owned water companies face the connection-fee limits already applied to towns and authorities.
- MediumFairfield County, CT
Connecticut proposes ending federal hazardous waste cleanup oversight at former GE Bridgeport plant, with building limits
State regulators tentatively find cleanup complete on 30.2 acres at 1285 Boston Avenue, relying on a recorded land-use restriction instead of a permit; comments are due November 12, 2026.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut picks 63.4 MW of out-of-state solar in regional buy; energy strategy comments due October 16
DEEP and its New England partners announced 102.4 MW of solar selections on September 24, 2026, of which 63.4 MW are Connecticut's, all outside Connecticut, with delivery required by the end of 2032. Nuclear proposals are still under review. Written comments on the next Comprehensive Energy Strategy are due October 16, 2026.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut nuclear bids still undecided as state prepares town opt-in host program and site grants
On September 24, 2026 DEEP said it is still evaluating nuclear proposals in its zero-carbon procurement. A 2025 law lets towns opt in to host advanced reactors and funds site readiness grants; two 2026 data-center bills were not taken up before the session ended on May 6.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut approves Ellington orchard solar as farm agency says it cannot review non-prime soils
The Siting Council approved a 4.99-megawatt array on an orchard with soils of statewide importance, which fall outside the agriculture department's review, and applied the 2026 emergency-contact rule.
- LowNew Haven County, CT
Connecticut reviews Amazon drone delivery hub at North Haven warehouse; comments close October 15
Federal aviation regulators asked the state to confirm that up to 1,000 daily drone deliveries from a warehouse hub fit Connecticut's coastal program; state comments run through October 15, 2026.
- MediumConnecticut
Federal: Habitat damage no longer counts as 'harm' to listed species; states including Connecticut sue
The rescission took effect September 14, 2026 and applies to the four states. Habitat modification alone no longer counts as prohibited take under federal rules, but consultation and critical habitat duties remain. A state coalition including CT, NJ and NY has challenged it.
- MediumWindham County, CT
Connecticut Siting Council closes record on 50-megawatt Sterling-Plainfield solar plan; decision due by February 2027
Docket 550, a 50-megawatt solar project on nine parcels in Sterling and Plainfield, closed its evidentiary record on August 11, 2026. About 43 to 45 acres of core forest would be cleared, the main contested point. The Council's final decision deadline, extended with the applicant's consent, is February 17, 2027.
- MediumHartford County, CT
Connecticut weighs Eversource's rebuild of 10.7 miles of power lines; comments due October 10
Petition 1720, filed September 8, 2026, asks the Siting Council to rule that Eversource's Southington to Berlin to Black Rock rebuild, estimated at $204 million, needs no certificate. It would replace 140 structures with 177, with taller poles. The schedule lists October 10, 2026 for comments and party requests.
- MediumFairfield County, CT
Connecticut town of Trumbull bars new data centers for two years, exempting its existing site
Trumbull's council adopted a two-year moratorium on new data centers on September 9, while Cromwell's planners rejected a one-year pause and New Haven and Ellington weigh their own.
- MediumConnecticut
Federal: Flood insurance program expires December 11, 2026 unless extended, which could delay flood-zone closings
The federal flood insurance program is authorized only until December 11, 2026. If authority lapses, new policies cannot be written, and the mandatory purchase requirement is enforced by lenders, so closings on flood-zone property in NJ, NY, CT and PA could be delayed. Policies in force continue to their expiration.
- MediumHartford County, CT
Connecticut Siting Council bars early site work on battery storage, approves Manchester project
On July 2, 2026 the Council refused to let a 3.4-megawatt Manchester battery developer pour a pad before its ruling, citing state law; the decision is due by December 7. On September 4, 2026 it approved a 300-kilowatt library battery with a sound wall and fire conditions.
- MediumNew London County, CT
Connecticut Siting Council takes East Lyme solar farm to enforcement hearing over inverter swap and sale
State siting regulators will hear evidence on November 5 on whether the owner of a 5-megawatt East Lyme solar facility broke its approval by replacing equipment and changing hands without notice.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut approves Simsbury golf-course solar on prime farmland soils after developer pledges beekeeping and crops
The Siting Council approved a 4.65-megawatt array on a former golf course after the agriculture department relied on planned farming, and required a bond to restore the prime soils.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut auditors fault approval of state's only data center tax break as program stays intact
A state audit finds no record that a required review preceded Connecticut's only data center incentive deal; the 20-to-30-year tax exemptions and host-town agreements remain law.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut moves to renew water-use permits that expire January 2027; comments closed September 18
DEEP's four general permits for water diversions, including testing, cooling and remediation uses, are up for reissuance, and anyone relying on current coverage should compare the new terms before January 18, 2027.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut requires summary review of two-to-nine-unit buildings on commercial lots, parking alone cannot defeat small projects
Since July 1, 2026, Connecticut's housing law bars towns from rejecting residential projects of 16 units or fewer solely for lack of required parking, and requires summary review of two-to-nine-unit buildings on commercial or mixed-use lots. Local regulations and pending applications should be examined against both.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut wetlands board members must finish state training by January 2027; denial standards unchanged
New training duties for local wetlands boards do not change the evidence a denial requires, so the record built at the hearing remains the basis of review on appeal.
- MediumFairfield County, CT
Connecticut appeals court affirms ruling that Wilton sewer authority acted arbitrarily in denying 70-unit project
On May 26, 2026 the Appellate Court affirmed a judgment that Wilton's sewer authority acted arbitrarily in denying a 70-unit project, because its capacity finding rested on a hypothetical flow and the applicant had no chance to respond to its ownership objections. The matter was remanded for approval with conditions.
- MediumConnecticut
Federal: Proposed air permit rule would let some non-emitting site work start before the permit issues
EPA's May 13, 2026 proposal would redefine when construction begins under New Source Review so that foundations, utility service and similar non-emitting work could proceed before a permit. Comments closed June 29, 2026. It is not in force.
- HighConnecticut
Connecticut ends Transfer Act filings for sales from March 1, 2026; release-based cleanup applies
Since March 1, 2026 transactions no longer require Transfer Act filings, and cleanup duties arise when a release is discovered or occurs. A legislative study of brownfield problems under the new program is due January 1, 2027. Deal documents drafted around Transfer Act forms should be examined.
- MediumConnecticut
Connecticut reissues dewatering and cleanup wastewater permit; new sites must apply 180 days before discharging
The state's general permit for dewatering and remediation wastewater took effect March 1, 2026 and runs to February 28, 2031. New sites apply 180 days before discharge and file coastal, wildlife and treatment documents. A related draft general permit was withdrawn on July 15, 2026.
- MediumConnecticutFree to read
Connecticut ends town exemptions for new coastal single-family homes and requires state referral in flood zones
New single-family homes in the coastal area now need coastal site plan review, and plans in mapped flood zones go to the state for comment before the town decides.