New Jersey Pinelands Commission | Guidelines & Tools

Applications

Septic Dilution Model

Guidelines & Tools

Applications Forms
Cultural Resources
Forestry
Procedural Guidance
Sample Affidavits, Deeds & Public Notices
Septic Systems
Stormwater Management
Threatened & Endangered Species
Vegetation
Wells or Water Allocation Increases in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer Subject to N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.86(d)
Wetlands

The Pinelands Commission offers many checklists and tools to help applicants move through the application process. The Commission also has developed sample language to satisfy various sworn statement, deed restriction and deed notice, and public notice requirements. Not every application will require use of all of the guidelines and tools that follow. If you are unsure whether you must submit a document to the Commission as part of your application, please contact the Environmental Specialist reviewing your application for guidance at (609) 894-7300.

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Applications Forms

Description	Updated	Format
Application for a Letter of Interpretation for Pinelands Development Credits Use this application form when you are applying to determine how many Pinelands Development Credits may be allocated to your property.	2023	.pdf
Application for Development in the Pinelands Area Use this application form when you are applying for development (including a subdivision with no proposed site improvements) in the Pinelands Area.	2024	.pdf
Application for Organized Off-Road Vehicle Event in the Pinelands Area Use this application form when you are applying for an organized off-road vehicle event (for example, an enduro or Jeep Jamboree) in the Pinelands Area.	2023	.pdf

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Cultural Resources

Description	Updated	Format
Guidelines for Cultural Resource Surveys This document is intended to provide thorough guidance to the cultural resource professional in preparing a report on a cultural resource survey in accordance with the Pinelands Commission’s standards.	2014	.pdf
List of Prospective Cultural Resource Consultants This list is in no particular order and is not intended to indicate the Pinelands Commission’s recommendation or endorsement of any listed entity.	2024	.pdf
Pinelands Cultural Resource Management Plan for Historic Period Sites This document explains Pinelands and Local Designation, the process by which cultural resource surveys are undertaken, and the recommended treatment procedures for various types of sites.	1991	.pdf

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Forestry

Description

Updated

Format

Recommended Forestry Management Practices Report

This document was prepared by the Forestry Advisory Committee in developing the 2009 amendments to the CMP’s forestry standards. It reviews the broad goals for forestry activity in the Pinelands, ways to make forest management planning better, and describes generally recommended silvicultural practices for the Pinelands.

2006

.pdf

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Procedural Guidance

Description	Updated	Format
Application Exemptions Use this document as guidance to determine whether your proposed development requires an application to the Pinelands Commission.	2024	.pdf
Local Agency Approval Checklist This optional checklist is designed to help applicants submit a complete local agency approval package to the Pinelands Commission. Please note that the Commission cannot review your approval until all required items are received.	2018	.pdf
Public Development and Waiver Submission Deadlines This document lists the various deadlines for public development and waiver applications in order to be heard at a Commission meeting on a given date.	December 2024	.pdf
Municipalities with Local Review Officer (LRO) Programs This document includes a list and contact information for the Pinelands Municipalities that have Local Review Officer (LRO) programs.	February 2024	.pdf

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Sample Affidavits, Deeds & Public Notices

SAMPLE AFFIDAVITS
Description	Updated	Format
Affidavit for Cultural Housing Eligibility Use this sample affidavit when you are required to demonstrate your eligibility under the cultural housing provision.	2014	.pdf
Affidavit for Dwelling Unit Accessory to Farm Operation in Agricultural Production Areas Use this sample affidavit when you are required to demonstrate your eligibility to locate a single family dwelling on a lot of at least 10 acres accessory to an active agricultural operation in a Pinelands Agricultural Production Area.	2015	.pdf
Affidavit for Grandfather Provision Eligibility Use this sample affidavit when you are required to demonstrate your eligibility under the substandard lot (“grandfather”) provision.	2014	.pdf
Affidavit for Waiver Common Ownership Use this sample affidavit when you are applying for a Waiver of Strict Compliance.	2014	.pdf
SAMPLE DEED LANGUAGE
Description	Updated	Format
Deed Language for Agricultural Subdivisions Use this sample deed language when you are applying for a subdivision to create at least one vacant lot that is actively being farmed and that is not currently proposed for development.	2014	.pdf
Deed Notice Language for Nitrogen Reducing Residential Septic Systems Use this sample deed language when your alternate design septic system has been installed. Evidence that this deed language has been filed with the county clerk’s office is required prior to issuance of a Certificate of Compliance and Certificate of Occupancy.	2021	.pdf
Deed Language for Clustering Use this sample deed language when completing an application for residential development under the clustering provision. We thank you for your patience as we develop this sample deed language. Please contact the Pinelands Commission at (609)894-7300 for guidance in the interim.
Deed Language for Density Transfer Use this sample deed language when completing an application for residential development under the density transfer provision. Updated version coming soon!	2014	.pdf
Deed Language for Septic Dilution Use this sample deed language when completing an application for development that requires deed restriction of adjacent lands to meet septic dilution standards.	2014	.pdf
Deed Language for Threatened and Endangered Species Use this sample deed language when completing an application for development that requires deed restriction of a portion of the parcel for the protection of threatened and endangered species.	2025	.pdf
SAMPLE PUBLIC NOTICE LANGUAGE If you are completing an application that requires public notice and does not concern a specific parcel (example: application only concerns a right-of-way or easement), please consult the instructions on the first page of the sample notice. The official newspapers of the Pinelands Commission are the Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, Burlington County Times and Courier Post.
Description	Updated	Format
Official Newspapers of Pinelands Area Municipalities Use this document if required to publish public notice in an official newspaper of a municipality. The Commission does its best to maintain a current, accurate list of municipalities’ official newspapers, but we suggest that you confirm with the municipality prior to publishing notice.	September 2021	.pdf
Pinelands Commission Letter of Interpretation Public Notice Use this sample notice language when you are completing an application with the Pinelands Commission only for a Letter of Interpretation for a determination other than wetlands boundary, wetlands presence/absence, or Pinelands Development Credits. Under this option, the application requires a fee of $250 and is valid with the Pinelands Commission for 5 years.	2015	.pdf
Pinelands Commission Wetlands Boundary Letter of Interpretation Public Notice Use this sample notice language when you are completing an application with the Pinelands Commission only for a Letter of Interpretation to determine the wetlands boundary. Under this option, the application requires a fee of $250 and is valid for 5 years.	2015	.pdf
Pinelands Commission Wetlands Presence/Absence Letter of Interpretation Public Notice Use this sample notice language when you are completing an application with the Pinelands Commission only for a Letter of Interpretation to determine the presence or absence of wetlands. Under this option, the application requires a fee of $250 and is valid for 5 years.	2015	.pdf
Joint Pinelands Commission/NJDEP Wetlands Letter of Interpretation Public Notice Use this sample notice language when you are completing an application with both the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for a wetlands Letter of Interpretation (LOI). Under this option, the application requires a fee of at least $1,000 and the LOI is valid with both agencies for 5 years.	2015	.pdf
Public Development Application Public Notice Use this sample notice language if you are a public agency completing an application for major development with the Pinelands Commission.	2015	.pdf
Waiver of Strict Compliance Application Public Notice Use this sample notice language if you are completing an application for a Waiver of Strict Compliance.	2015	.pdf

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Septic Systems

Description	Updated	Format
Alternate Design Septic System Vendor List This guidance document provides the technology description and contact information for each of the alternate design septic systems currently authorized for use on residential lots under 3.2 acres in the Pinelands.	November 2024	.pdf
Checklist for Completion of Alternate Design Septic System Post-Installation Requirements This checklist can be used to ensure that you submit all items to the Pinelands Commission as required in order to receive a health department Certificate of Compliance for an alternate design septic system.	2014	.pdf
Form for Alternate Design Septic System Post-Installation Cost Information This optional form is designed to help applicants organize their post-installation alternate design septic system documents for submission to the Pinelands Commission.	2014	.pdf
Form for Alternate Design Septic System Post-Installation Manufacturer’s Certification This optional form is designed to help applicants organize their post-installation alternate design septic system documents for submission to the Pinelands Commission.	2014	.pdf
Form for Alternate Design Septic System Post-Installation Engineer’s Certification This optional form is designed to help applicants organize their post-installation alternate design septic system documents for submission to the Pinelands Commission.	2014	.pdf
NJDEP/County Health Department Certificate of Compliance Form (Parts A, B & C) This form is required by the NJDEP/County Health Department to obtain a health department Certificate of Compliance for an alternate design septic system. A copy of this form should be attached to the Professional Engineer's Certification Form for Alternate Design Septic System Post-installation Certification form (above).	October 2021	.pdf
Septic Dilution Model This tool is designed to help applicants and consultants determine whether proposed development will meet the Pinelands Commission’s septic system standard of 2 ppm nitrate-nitrogen in the groundwater exiting the parcel or entering a surface water body.	Sept 2014	Windows- based program (zip file)

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Stormwater Management

Description	Updated	Format
Pinelands Stormwater Checklist for Minor Residential Development This document identifies the information that must be submitted to the Commission to address the stormwater management standards in the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.84(a)6) and the municipal land use ordinance for applications for proposed minor residential development (1-4 dwelling units).	February 2023	.pdf
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Manual	2016	Link
New Jersey Developers' Green Infrastructure Guide	2017	Link
Pinelands Stormwater BMPs: Permeability Test Criteria This document provides illustrated guidance for soil permeability testing and depth requirements.	November 2008	.pdf
Pinelands Stormwater BMPs: Soil Profile Cross-Section Design, AutoCAD Template Consultants may use and complete this template as part of a stormwater management plan submission. This document is an AutoCAD file.	July 2013	.dwg
Pinelands Stormwater BMPs: Soil Profile Cross-Section Design, Completed Example Consultants may use this example of a completed NJ Pinelands Stormwater BMP Soil Profile Cross-Section to guide them in completing the submission for their subject site.	2012	.pdf
Pinelands Stormwater BMPs: Soil Profile Cross-Section Design, PDF Template Consultants may use and complete this template as part of a stormwater management plan submission. This document is a PDF file.	July 2013	.pdf
Pinelands Stormwater BMPs: Test Pit Depth Requirements This document provides illustrated guidance for test pit excavation depth and soil log submissions.	November 2008	.pdf
Pinelands Area Model Stormwater Control Ordinance This document is the generic Pinelands Area Model Stormwater Control Ordinance. A customized version was distributed to each Pinelands Area municipality.	February 2023	.pdf

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Threatened & Endangered Species

Description

Updated

Format

Guidelines for Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys

This guidance document provides consultants with an overview of the methodology typically followed to demonstrate whether local populations of threatened and endangered plants and/or habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife will be impacted as a result of the proposed development.

2006

.pdf

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Vegetation

Description	Updated	Format
Native Pinelands Plants for the Landscape This guidance document includes a partial list of Pinelands plants and their uses for landscaping, habitat, enhancement and forest restoration.	2021	.pdf

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Wells or Water Allocation Increases in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer Subject to N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.86(d)

Description	Updated	Format
Alternative Water Supply Sources for Well or Water Allocation Increase Applications	12/7/2023	.pdf
Statewide Water Supply Master Plan	10/5/2017	Website: Click here.
Technical Memorandum (TM) 12-2	2012	Website: Click here.
Kirkwood-Cohansey Well/Allocation Sample Notice - Public Development	12/11/2023	.pdf
Kirkwood-Cohansey Well/Allocation Sample Notice - Private Development	12/11/2023	.pdf
Pinelands Municipalities by HUC-11 Watershed	12/7/2023	.pdf

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Wetlands

Description	Updated	Format
Buffer Delineation Model for the New Jersey Pinelands Wetlands This document contains a series of site-, region-, use-, and wetland-specific calculations that may be used to determine whether a reduction of the wetland buffer would result in a significant adverse impact to the subject wetland.	1985; fillable form created in 2016	.pdf
Pinelands Commission Manual for Identifying and Delineating Pinelands Area Wetlands (A Pinelands Supplement to the Federal Manual) This document provides criteria, field indicators, and methodology to be used in delineating Pinelands Area wetlands.	1991	.pdf
Freshwater Wetland General Permit Application Form and Checklist The Pinelands Commission reviews applications for Freshwater Wetland General Permits on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for sites in the Pinelands Area. Download the necessary forms from NJDEP Division of Land Use Regulation’s website at www.nj.gov/dep/landuse/forms.html, but be sure to submit all items to the Pinelands Commission. When applying for a Freshwater Wetland General Permit in the Pinelands Area, public notice Attachments A and B below must be used instead of Attachments A and B provided on NJDEP’s website. Application fees may be paid online by clicking HERE or checks or money orders made payable to “NJDEP-Pinelands Wetlands Program” may be mailed to the Pinelands Commission, P.O. Box 359, New Lisbon, NJ 08064.
Freshwater Wetland General Permit Attachment A – Model Letter: Notice to Neighboring Landowners This sample notice contains specific language necessary for use in the Pinelands Area when applying for a Freshwater Wetland General Permit.	2024	.pdf
Freshwater Wetland General Permit Attachment B – Model Newspaper Advertisement This sample notice contains specific language necessary for use in the Pinelands Area when applying for a Freshwater Wetland General Permit.	2024	.pdf

If you are looking for a form or guidance that is not listed above, please contact the Pinelands Commission at (609) 894-7300.

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