If you would like the following information in the form of a pamphlet, click here . In each of these cases, New Jersey's coastal permit program may affect where and whether you buy, build, or add on. In New Jersey and throughout the United States, coastal property is regulated to protect public safety and the environment. New Jersey's coastline is a rich and diverse fabric of natural wonders and economic engines that improve our quality of life and enrich our economy. Businesses, tourists, and residents are drawn to New Jersey's coast for its many economic and recreational opportunities.
Coastal industries contribute enormously to New Jersey's economy.
Coastal land provides crucial habitat for a wealth of wildlife, including migrating birds, commercially valuable fish and shellfish, and sporting and recreational species. Yet our coastline is under threat from human activities. Hasty, uncoordinated development along the New Jersey shore has already had an impact on this fragile ecosystem. Regulation is necessary to prevent pollution, destruction of vital wildlife habitat, increases in rainwater runoff, and destruction of the natural beauty that attracts visitors. Regulation of coastal activities is also necessary in some cases to prevent loss of life and property from coastal storms, erosion, and flooding.