NEW JERSEY — A total of 424 New Jersey municipalities have adopted and filed Housing Element and Fair Share Plans to meet their affordable housing obligations, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Fair Share Housing Center.
The plans, submitted following the state’s June 30 deadline, mark a major step forward in implementing New Jersey’s landmark affordable housing legislation signed into law earlier this year. The new law, A4/S50, streamlines the affordable housing process and requires each town to submit a plan that outlines how it will meet its constitutional obligation to provide affordable homes, as established by the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
Out of 452 municipalities that committed to participate in the Fourth Round of affordable housing planning, 94% met the deadline, representing a 25% increase in participation compared to the previous round, which began in 2015.
“It’s encouraging to see so many towns stepping up to build the affordable homes New Jersey urgently needs,” said Adam Gordon, executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center. “This shows the new law is working — cutting red tape, lowering costs, and getting more towns involved.”
The legislation, signed in March by Gov. Phil Murphy, was sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, Senator Troy Singleton, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Assemblymembers Yvonne Lopez, Benjie Wimberly, and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.
“When I signed A4/S50, I did so to honor the promise of the Mount Laurel Doctrine and ensure that more hardworking families have access to a quality, affordable place to call home,” Murphy said in a statement. “I am grateful to the Fair Share Housing Center for their continued analysis and advocacy, helping to keep New Jersey on track to meet our affordable housing goals.”
Supporters of the new law hailed the strong municipal response as evidence that the streamlined process is effective.
“The law is working,” said Senate President Scutari. “It has cut red tape, streamlined the process, and lowered costs as it gives towns more freedom to create affordable housing that meets their own needs.”
Over the next two months, Fair Share Housing Center and other stakeholders will review each municipality’s plan to ensure legal compliance ahead of the August 31 deadline for filing challenges. Municipalities will then have until December 31 to resolve any disputes and until March 15, 2026 to finalize their plans and update zoning accordingly.
Unlike the Third Round, which was marred by delays and litigation, the Fourth Round has seen broad and timely participation. For example, Princeton’s Third Round obligation wasn’t finalized until 2018 after a 41-day trial, and its plan was not adopted until 2020. This time, Princeton filed its Fourth Round plan on time and used it as an opportunity to promote smart growth by repurposing vacant office space and focusing development near jobs, schools, and transit.
“Princeton’s plan is about more than meeting a legal mandate,” said Council President Mia Sacks. “It reaffirms our commitment to enhancing racial and socioeconomic diversity through inclusive development.”
The new law gives municipalities more flexibility to meet their housing goals, including the use of mixed-income and supportive housing, and offers incentives such as development credits and financing tools. It also mandates greater public transparency by requiring municipalities to make their plans and updates available online.
Since the Mount Laurel Doctrine was established nearly 50 years ago, it has led to the creation of over 75,000 affordable homes, including more than 25,000 since 2015, as well as 130,000 middle-income homes. Today, over 400,000 New Jerseyans live in housing created through the program.
To view each municipality’s plan, residents can visit the New Jersey Courts’ Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program website.
“Legislative leaders, local officials, and Governor Murphy came together to pass this law because they understand that thriving communities start with housing people can afford,” Gordon said. “When local leaders support affordable homes, they are prioritizing stronger neighborhoods and more resilient local economies.”
