SENATE, No. 693
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Wimberly
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits municipalities from requiring certain plan approval related to addition of up to five van accessible parking spaces to existing parking facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the General Assembly on October 29, 2026.
An Act concerning van accessible parking spaces and amending P.L.1977, c.202.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.202 (C.39:4-197.5) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. [Any] A municipality may, by ordinance, resolution, or regulation, establish restricted parking spaces in front of residences, schools, hospitals and other public buildings and in shopping and business districts for use by persons who have been issued special vehicle identification cards by the Division of Motor Vehicles pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205), when using a motor vehicle on which is displayed a certificate, for which a special vehicle identification card has been issued, pursuant to section 3 of [said law] P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206).
b. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, and consistent with federal law, a municipality shall not require approval of a minor site plan or site plan, as defined in sections 3.2 and 3.4 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-5 and C.40:55D-7), respectively, or any other approval required by an approving authority or enforcing agency pursuant to P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.) or P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), that is solely for an improvement to an existing parking lot or parking structure within a commercial zone to provide up to five van accessible parking spaces that meet the criteria established by chapter five of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, or its successor 1, unless the improvement to provide additional spaces reduces the total number of existing parking spaces that were required by ordinance and incorporated into an original site plan approval1.
(2) For the purposes of this subsection:
“2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design” means the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design published by the United States Department of Justice on September 15, 2010;
“Van accessible” means an accessible parking space that is wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair lift or ramp, has higher vertical clearance specifications, and requires a sign identifying the space as van accessible.
(cf: P.L.1980, c.178, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.