Selecting Projects for the 2026 Permitting Dashboard Pilot

New Jersey is piloting an online permitting dashboard that helps developers, businesses, and nonprofits track their permit applications in one place. The dashboard will focus on housing, energy, and commercial real estate projects. It will expand to include more project types over time.

Applications for the 2026 pilot are now closed. The State is reviewing submissions and will randomly select up to 10 projects by mid-June 2026. Sign up below to get email updates about the pilot and the dashboard.

About the New Jersey Permitting Dashboard Pilot

Development projects in New Jersey often need multiple permits from various State agencies. The application and review process can be long and complex. When permits take too long to process, projects cost more money and take longer to finish. This slows down critical projects across the State, like affordable housing and power generation.

The New Jersey Permitting Dashboard aims to make the permitting process for developers, businesses, nonprofits, and other applicants more transparent and accountable. Applicants will be able to track permit applications across State agencies in one place. The dashboard will show you target due dates, next steps, and status updates for each of your permits. This will help reduce permitting delays, saving time and money so important projects get built faster across New Jersey.

This image shows a sample of what the Permitting Dashboard pilot could look like for a solar energy project. The dashboard is still being built and may change before public release. Participant feedback will help us make the dashboard better.

The 2026 Permitting Dashboard Pilot

The State will pilot the New Jersey Permitting Dashboard in summer 2026 with up to 10 energy, housing, and commercial real estate development projects. This pilot will track permits from 3 State agencies:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT)
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

Late-May to mid-June 2026: Selection Process

The application period closed on May 21, 2026. The State is reviewing all applications to confirm projects meet eligibility requirements. Eligible projects will be randomly selected using a numbered lottery. The State will select 4 housing projects, 3 commercial projects, and 3 energy projects.

Summer 2026: Pilot Phase

Selected projects will start working with Governor’s Office representatives and agency Permit Coordinators. Projects will have pre-application meetings, submit permit applications, and see their permits and status updates on the dashboard. Live permit tracking data will be added on a rolling basis as projects enter the permitting process.

Projects Eligible for the 2026 Permitting Dashboard Pilot

The pilot is limited to projects that require multiple permits and will have a significant economic impact in the State. To be eligible for this pilot, projects have to:

Meet permitting requirements:

Need permits from at least 2 of these agencies: DEP, DOT, or DCA, or
Need at least 3 permits from any 1 of these agencies: DEP, DOT, or DCA

Be 1 of these project types:

Multi-family or mixed-use residential development with at least 25 housing units
Commercial real estate development creating at least 10 permanent full-time jobs or 25 temporary construction jobs
Solar or battery storage energy project generating or storing at least 1 megawatt of new power

Meet permit application timelines:

Plan to submit at least 1 permit application to DEP, DOT, or DCA by July 31, 2026, or
Have recently submitted an initial permit application to DEP, DOT, or DCA on or after April 1, 2026

Applicants agreed to share feedback about their experience. They also agreed that their publicly available project data may be displayed on https://permits.nj.gov.

Your Path Through the Pilot

The steps below explain the application, selection, and permit review process.

Step 1: Applications Submitted

Applicants submitted their applications by May 21, 2026.

Step 2: Project Selection

The State is reviewing all applications to make sure projects meet the eligibility requirements. Eligible projects will be randomly selected by mid-June using a numbered lottery. Selected applicants will be notified by email and invited to schedule an onboarding meeting.

Step 3: Onboarding Meeting

Selected projects will meet with Governor's Office staff and agency Permit Coordinators to discuss the pilot process and how the dashboard will work. After this meeting, the project will be added to the dashboard.

Step 4: Pre-Application Process

Projects will submit a pre-application checklist for each relevant agency. Each agency will then schedule a meeting to discuss what permits are needed and how to apply. All these steps can be tracked on the dashboard.

Step 5: Submit Permit Applications

After pre-application meetings, required permits will appear on the dashboard. The dashboard will show next steps, expected timelines, and progress updates. Projects will apply for each permit following the normal application process.

Step 6: Track Your Permits

Projects can use the dashboard to track permit updates and monitor progress.

Additional Opportunities for Engagement

All eligible projects that apply for the pilot can participate in the broader advisory group. This group is open to all applicants, even if your project is not selected for the permitting dashboard pilot. The goal of this group is to get feedback to improve the State permitting process.

If you are not eligible for the pilot but still want to share your thoughts, contact us at permits@nj.gov. We welcome your input on how to improve the State permitting process.

Frequently Asked Questions

I submitted an application. When will I hear if my project was selected?

All applicants will receive an email notification by mid-June 2026. Selected projects will be announced publicly on this website. Applicants will be contacted directly to schedule onboarding meetings.

I applied but didn’t receive a confirmation email. Was my application received?

If you submitted the application form and received a confirmation screen, your application is in the system. If you have concerns about your submission, contact permits@nj.gov.

I missed the application deadline. Can I still participate?

The application period for the 2026 pilot has closed. However, you can still get involved:

Join the advisory group:

All eligible applicants can participate in the broader advisory group to share feedback on the State permitting process. Contact permits@nj.gov to learn more.
Stay informed about future phases:

Sign up for email updates below. The dashboard will expand to include more projects, agencies, and project types over time.
Share your input:

Contact permits@nj.gov to share feedback about your permitting experiences. Your input helps shape future improvements.

Will my project get approved faster if I am selected for the pilot?

The dashboard will help track permits and boost transparency and accountability in the review process. Feedback from this pilot will help the Governor’s Office identify ways to reduce delays and costs in the future. This dashboard is not expected to speed up approvals in this initial pilot phase. If selected for this pilot, you will follow the normal permit application process for your project. All permit applications must continue to meet standard permit requirements.

How will you select projects for this pilot?

The State will review all applications and make sure projects meet the eligibility requirements. Projects will then be selected using a numbered lottery. The State will randomly pick 4 housing projects, 3 commercial projects, and 3 energy projects. To maintain regional diversity, the State will design the lottery to ensure that at least 2 projects are randomly selected from among South Jersey applicants (from Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties). No more than 2 projects from any single county may be selected statewide.

Developers, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations may apply for this pilot. Applicants can submit more than 1 project, but only 1 project per applicant can be chosen for the pilot. This helps the State include a diverse range of projects during the pilot.

If there are not enough eligible applications in a specific category or region, the State may fill the remaining spots by randomly drawing from other categories or regions.

What are the eligibility criteria for participating in the pilot?

Applicants must be up to date on State taxes and comply with State and federal employment and labor laws. Review the eligibility section above for the complete list of requirements.

What if I require permits from other State agencies or local governments?

You can still apply for the pilot. However, permits from agencies or local governments outside of DEP, DOT, or DCA may not appear in the dashboard pilot.

What happens if I am not selected for the pilot or do not have an eligible project?

All eligible projects that apply for the pilot can participate in the broader advisory group. Review the Additional Opportunities for Engagement section above for more information.

If you believe that your project was mistakenly declared ineligible for the pilot based on the established criteria, you can also contact the Governor’s Office at permits@nj.gov.

Stay Informed About Future Phases

Sign up to receive email updates as New Jersey expands the permitting dashboard to more projects in the future. We'll send you information with updates on the permitting dashboard or other key State permitting announcements.