Wetlands, waterways and flooding

Freshwater and coastal wetlands, stream and river encroachment, flood hazard areas, flood maps and the coast. What changed, the rules that apply and the dates ahead for projects in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Latest briefings

1. HighNew JerseyOct 4, 2026Free to read

   New Jersey adopts one-year extension letting complete applications use its older land-use rules until July 2027

   Applications the state declares administratively and technically complete before July 20, 2027 will be reviewed under the pre-2026 land-use rules rather than the climate-adjusted flood standards.

   FinalWetlands & floodingStormwater & water quality
2. LowHudson County, NJOct 4, 2026

   New Jersey's Hudson River waterfront projects need a state permit, a public walkway and flood review

   Local redevelopment approvals along the Hudson do not settle the state waterfront permit, which carries a permanent public walkway obligation and, unless an application qualifies for legacy review, the climate-adjusted flood standards.

   FinalWetlands & floodingZoning & land use
3. LowNew Haven County, CTOct 2, 2026

   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.

   ProposedWetlands & flooding
4. HighNew JerseySep 30, 2026

   Federal proposal would regulate only streams and wetlands with water all year; comments close October 9

   A supplemental federal proposal would narrow which waters need Army Corps permits in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to those holding water every day in ordinary conditions; current rules apply meanwhile.

   ProposedWetlands & flooding
5. MediumConnecticutSep 29, 2026

   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.

   FinalWetlands & flooding
6. MediumNew YorkSep 25, 2026

   New York City requires a state wetland ruling before approving building plans on flagged lots

   Since August 17, new building, enlargement, earthwork and foundation filings on lots flagged for wetlands or coastal erosion need a state jurisdictional determination, and any required state permit, before city approval.

   LocalWetlands & flooding
7. MediumNew JerseySep 25, 2026

   New Jersey awards 16 farm-solar projects totaling 52 megawatts with farmland, soil and wetlands conditions

   On August 12, 2026 the Board of Public Utilities conditionally approved 16 dual-use solar projects in eight counties and denied one on wetlands grounds. Awardees face 30- and 90-day filing deadlines, a state permitting meeting, and 15 years of annual farm reporting.

   FinalEnergy & gridWetlands & flooding
8. LowNew JerseySep 21, 2026

   Federal: HUD proposes dropping the higher flood-elevation standard for assisted housing in floodplains

   HUD's July 10, 2026 proposal would restore the 100-year floodplain as the standard for HUD-assisted and insured projects. Comments closed September 8, 2026. FEMA already stopped applying the higher standard to its own funding in March 2025.

   ProposedWetlands & floodingHousing
9. LowConnecticutSep 19, 2026

   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.

   FinalWetlands & flooding
10. MediumNew YorkSep 18, 2026

    New York issues five-year stream work permit; no work may start before state countersignature

    DEC's new Stream Activities General Permit covers bank stabilization, culvert and bridge repair and utility line repairs from May 21, 2026 to May 20, 2031. It requires DEC countersignature for every authorization and sets a 500-foot limit on vegetation-based bank stabilization inside the New York City watershed.

    FinalWetlands & flooding

All briefings on this topic

Rules 26

• Federal · 91 FR 768 (January 8, 2026); 33 CFR Part 330Army Corps nationwide permits (2026 set)
• New Jersey · N.J.S.A. 13:19-1 et seq.; N.J.A.C. 7:7CAFRA coastal development permits
• New Jersey · N.J.A.C. 7:13, 7:7, 7:7A, 7:8 (REAL rule)Climate-adjusted flood and coastal rules (REAL)
• Federal · 16 U.S.C. 1456(c); 15 CFR Part 930Coastal consistency review of federal permits
• New Jersey · N.J.S.A. 12:5-3; N.J.S.A. 13:19; N.J.A.C. 7:7Coastal zone and waterfront development permits
• Federal · 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; 44 CFR 59.1, 60.3; 44 CFR Part 67Federal flood map and floodplain building rules (NFIP)
• Federal · 33 U.S.C. 1344; 33 CFR Parts 320–332; 40 CFR Part 230Federal permits to fill wetlands and waters (Section 404)
• New Jersey · N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq.; N.J.A.C. 7:13Flood hazard area and riparian zone permits
• New Jersey · N.J.S.A. 13:9B-1 et seq.; N.J.A.C. 7:7AFreshwater wetlands and buffer permits
• New Jersey · N.J.S.A. 12:3-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 13:1B-13.1Tidelands licenses for state-owned waterfront land
• Federal · 33 U.S.C. 1362(7); 33 CFR 328.3; 40 CFR 120.2Which waters and wetlands are federally regulated (WOTUS)
• Federal · 33 U.S.C. 403; 33 CFR Part 322Work in navigable waters: piers, bulkheads and dredging (Section 10)
• New York · ECL 70-0117(9); 6 NYCRR Part 490Climate risk review and sea-level rise
• New York · Executive Law Article 42; 19 NYCRR Part 600Coastal consistency review
• New York · ECL Article 34; 6 NYCRR Part 505Coastal erosion hazard area permit
• New York · 6 NYCRR Part 890 (proposed; ENV-37-26-00006-P)Newtown Creek reclassification (proposed)
• New York · ECL Article 24; 6 NYCRR Parts 662-665State freshwater wetlands permit
• New York · ECL Article 15, Title 5; 6 NYCRR Part 608Stream, waterbody and dock permits
• New York · ECL Article 25; 6 NYCRR Part 661Tidal wetlands permit
• Connecticut · C.G.S. 22a-28 to 22a-35; 22a-359 to 22a-363hCoastal permits for tidal wetlands, docks and fill
• Connecticut · C.G.S. 22a-105 to 22a-109Coastal site plan review
• Connecticut · C.G.S. 25-68b to 25-68h; 22a-342 to 22a-349aFlood management certification for state-funded work
• Connecticut · C.G.S. 22a-36 to 22a-45d; R.C.S.A. 22a-39Inland wetlands and watercourses permit
• Pennsylvania · 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.; 25 Pa. Code Ch. 106Floodplain management and local floodplain permits
• Pennsylvania · PFBC notices, 56 Pa.B. No. 33 (15 Aug 2026); 25 Pa. Code §§ 105.17(1)(iii), 105.18aProposed wild trout and Class A stream listings (October 2026)
• Pennsylvania · 32 P.S. § 693.1 et seq.; 25 Pa. Code Ch. 105Water obstruction, encroachment and wetland permits

Coming up

• Oct 26, 2026Pennsylvania · Hearing or decisionFish and Boat Commission meeting on wild trout listings
• Nov 16, 2026New York · Hearing or decisionHearing on Newtown Creek reclassification
• Nov 19, 2026New York · Hearing or decisionVirtual hearing on Newtown Creek reclassification
• Nov 24, 2026New York · Comments closeNewtown Creek comment deadline: 24 or 30 Nov (notices differ)