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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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

    FinalHousing
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

    FinalHousing
  5. 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.

  6. 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.