Jersey City Zoning Map & Districts 2026
Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Jersey City, NJ. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Zoning Districts in Jersey City
Common zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction. Exact district names and codes may vary.
Preserves the pattern, quality and architectural individuality of existing detached one- and two-unit structures on lots larger than the standard 25x100, discouraging subdivision and demolition.
Preserves the pattern, quality and architectural individuality of existing structures and discourages subdivision and demolition on typical-size lots.
Accommodates existing housing, encourages compatible in-fill and preserves the streetscape and on-street parking where lot frontage is narrow; applies across every ward in the city.
Recognizes the existing pattern of attached multi-unit housing development and promotes compatible infill development.
Provides a broad range of multi-unit housing (mid-rise buildings of three to eight stories) in areas served by arterial streets, mass transit, neighborhood commercial uses and community facilities, relating buildings to the street.
Accommodates low, medium and high-rise multi-family housing in locations served by mass transit and adequate infrastructure to promote a mix of uses and dense urban activity.
Recognizes historic mixed-use neighborhood business districts and continues to permit a mix of uses consistent with neighborhood centers along historic corridors.
Recognizes and promotes the historic mixed-use neighborhood business districts that form distinct neighborhood centers throughout the city.
Provides development regulations contextual to the existing predominantly two- to four-story multifamily neighborhood with occasional retail venues.
Recognizes the importance of neighborhood business districts and provides ground-floor commercial in mixed-use buildings to promote walkability.
Recognizes the importance of neighborhood business districts and provides ground-floor commercial in mixed-use buildings to promote walkability.
Fosters a vibrant, accessible citywide activity district serving as a local and regional destination for business, retail, education, government, entertainment and transportation in a high-intensity urban context.
Promotes desirable highway commercial uses, improves the appearance of the streetscape, buffers adjacent neighborhoods and reinforces the area's function as a gateway to Jersey City.
Upgrades the appearance and function of the Communipaw Avenue corridor through screening, buffering and sensitive site planning while accommodating retail and automotive-oriented uses.
Acknowledges areas with an existing concentration of industrial activity or where future industrial activity is planned.
Enhances and accommodates the city's working waterfront in Greenville, providing an area for current and future port activity served by extensive transportation facilities with buffering to protect nearby neighborhoods.
Accommodates existing colleges and universities while preserving neighborhood stability and residential quality of life in areas bordering institutions of higher education.
Recognizes and accommodates existing and planned medical facilities.
Recognizes the presence of government uses in neighborhoods throughout the city and identifies existing and planned government facilities of citywide significance.
Acknowledges the city's existing inventory of parks and open space.
Identifies areas where redevelopment of water-oriented commercial, residential and recreational uses has occurred or has potential to occur, including high-cube warehousing in designated areas.
Recognizes the presence of large and smaller historic cemeteries and their influence on land use in the surrounding areas.
Supports the further development of the area as a national tourist attraction.
Recognizes the special significance of neighborhoods with varied and well-preserved historic character.
Recent Rezoning Activity in Jersey City
Frequently Asked Questions
The official Jersey City zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/63717e4171904651a65fe9827fcb5571. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.
Common zoning districts in Jersey City include residential (R-1, R-2, R-3), commercial (C-1, C-2), industrial (I-1, I-2), mixed-use (MU), and planned development (PD). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Jersey City to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
Zoning and land use in Jersey City are administered by the Department of Housing, Economic Development & Commerce, primarily through its Division of City Planning and Division of Zoning. Land use applications are decided by three volunteer boards: the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Historic Preservation Commission. The Division of Zoning enforces and interprets the city's Zoning and Land Use Ordinances as well as Jersey City's redevelopment plans.
Jersey City's zoning regulations are set out in Chapter 345 (Zoning) of the city's Code of Ordinances, which is published online in the Municode Library. Chapter 345 covers the land use boards, zoning districts, and zoning and design standards. Related land development rules appear in other chapters of the Code, such as Chapter 299 (Subdivision of Land) and Chapter 56 (Planning Board).
The Division of Zoning issues two main types of approvals. A Zoning Determination Letter (ZDL) answers use-classification and ordinance-interpretation questions and is typically processed within 10 business days after assignment. A Zoning Review Application (ZRA) is required for anyone undertaking new construction, rehabilitation, tenant fit-out, solar panel installation, or other work that needs building permits. All applications are submitted through the Jersey City Online Permitting and Licensing Portal; the division does not accept in-person submissions.
The Planning Board hears applications such as site plans, subdivisions, site plan amendments, extensions, and signage-only reviews. The Zoning Board of Adjustment hears variances (with or without a site plan), appeals of zoning decisions, plus site plans, subdivisions, amendments, extensions, and signage-only reviews that require relief from the zoning ordinance. Applications for both boards are filed through the city's online permitting portal via the Division of City Planning.
The Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Historic Preservation Commission have historically met in person at the City Hall Annex Boardroom, 4 Jackson Square (also listed as 39 Kearny Avenue), Jersey City, NJ 07305. Beginning June 2026 the boards transitioned to online meetings held via Zoom. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, and agendas are posted on the Jersey City Open Data portal along with a published annual meeting calendar.
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