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
- 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.
ProposedWetlands & flooding - 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.
FinalWetlands & flooding - 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.
FinalWetlands & flooding - 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.
Rules 10
- Federal · 91 FR 768 (January 8, 2026); 33 CFR Part 330Army Corps nationwide permits (2026 set)
- Federal · 16 U.S.C. 1456(c); 15 CFR Part 930Coastal consistency review of federal 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)
- 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)
- 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