July 8, 2020
The
Permit Extension Act of 2020
took effect last week after state lawmakers agreed to changes proposed by Governor Phil Murphy. Permits and approvals that would have expired on or after March 9 are now paused and will be extended by six months after the emergency period is deemed over. March 9 is the day that Governor Murphy declared the public health emergency in New Jersey.
The law applies to state, regional, county, and municipal agency permit approvals. It also extends certain deadlines for planning and zoning boards to grant or deny applications under the Municipal Land Use Law. The goal is to provide local officials with enough time to evaluate projects.
The Department of Environmental Protection is required by the act to publish a list of impacted permits extended on its website. This will that government agencies and businesses will be transparent to the public.
Introduced in early April, the bill sought to build on the Permit Extension Act of 2008. That act provided developers with a grace period for projects that were stalled by the Great Recession.
Both the Assembly and Senate passed the act on June 29. Governor Murphy signed the bill into law on July 1.
Stay safe,
Rich Higgins, CPA
Managing Principal - New Jersey Office
McCarthy & Company
Disclaimer: This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Information contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used as tax advice, and cannot be used by the recipient to avoid penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. We strongly advise you to seek professional assistance with respect to your specific issue(s).
