Bill Text: NJ S4764 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Pre-Vetted Accessory Design Program" to facilitate development of accessory dwelling units.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-10-05 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S4764 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4764-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Pre-Vetted Accessory Design Program" to facilitate development of accessory dwelling units.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act facilitating development of accessory dwelling units and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Accessory design" means a concept design submitted to the commissioner for consideration to be a pre-vetted accessory design.
"Accessory dwelling unit" means a residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons on the same lot as a primary dwelling. An "accessory dwelling unit" may be: located within a primary dwelling; located within an accessory structure; constructed in whole or part as an extension to a primary dwelling; or constructed as a separate, detached structure on the same lot as a primary dwelling.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
"Concept design" means a design developed by, or under the supervision of, the program coordinator pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.
"Pre-vetted accessory design" means an accessory dwelling unit design created by the department pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and approved by the commissioner pursuant to subsection d. of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Program" means the "Pre-Vetted Accessory Design Program," established pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Program coordinator" means the official appointed pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to administer the responsibilities of the pilot program.
2. a. There is established, in the department, the "Pre-Vetted Accessory Design Program" to facilitate the development of accessory dwelling units.
b. Within one month following the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the commissioner shall appoint:
(1) a program coordinator to administer the responsibilities of the program; and
(2) program staff, who may be assigned to staff the program from the Division of Codes and Standards, the Office of Planning Advocacy, the Office of Local Planning Services, from other divisions of the department, or from public and private entities outside of the department.
c. On or before the first day of the sixth month next following the date of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the program coordinator shall:
(1) through the engagement of program staff and, as necessary, outside experts, produce a variety of concept designs that maintain aesthetic continuity with different neighborhoods of the State, for potential use as pre-vetted accessory designs;
(2) engage the opinions on different concept designs from municipal officials and members of the public from different regions of the State; and
(3) develop accessory designs, and submit them to the commissioner for approval pursuant to subsection d. of this section.
d. The commissioner shall approve of an accessory design in order for the design to be considered a pre-vetted accessory design. Following approval by the commissioner, the pre-vetted accessory design shall be considered compliant with the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). No fewer than 10 pre-vetted accessory designs shall be approved by the commissioner pursuant to this subsection. Each pre-vetted accessory design shall be made available, at no cost to the public, on the Internet website of the department.
e. In developing pre-permitted home designs, the program coordinator shall consider:
(1) the minimization of construction costs and maximization of efficiency;
(2) developing a range of sizes;
(3) consideration of architectural styles that are likely to have an appealing appearance in a broad range of neighborhoods; and
(4) compliance with many municipal zoning codes in the absence of the pre-approval benefits of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
f. As determined necessary in the commissioner's discretion, the commissioner may direct the program coordinator to reconsider any of the decisions made pursuant to this section, or repeat any of the steps completed pursuant to subsections b. through e. of this section.
3. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "Pre-Vetted Accessory Design Program" (program) in the Department of Community Affairs (department) to facilitate the development of accessory dwelling units, as defined in the bill.
The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to appoint a program coordinator and program staff within one month following the bill's enactment. On or before the first day of the sixth month following the bill's enactment, the bill directs the program coordinator to:
� produce concept designs that maintain aesthetic continuity with many neighborhoods for potential application as pre-vetted accessory designs;
� engage the opinions on different potential designs from municipal officials and members of the public from different regions of the State; and
� develop accessory designs, and submit them to the commissioner for approval.
After development of an accessory design, the bill requires the commissioner to approve of a design in order for the design to be considered a pre-vetted accessory design. Following this approval, the design is to be considered compliant with the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). No fewer than 10 pre-vetted accessory designs are to be developed by the program coordinator. Each pre-vetted accessory design is to be made available, at no cost to the public, on the Internet website of the department.
As determined necessary in the commissioner's discretion, the bill authorizes the commissioner to direct the program coordinator to reconsider or repeat any of the decisions made pursuant to the bill.
