Governor Sherrill Cuts DEP and DOT Backlogs by Up to 83 Percent
New Jersey families and businesses waiting on state approvals are finally seeing movement, as state agencies chip away at bureaucratic delays. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation have slashed backlogs in key development and infrastructure permits since January, driven by new administrative strike teams and internal restructuring.
The reductions touch the fundamental machinery of building in the Garden State, from the wetlands letters required before a single shovel breaks ground to the highway access permits needed for commercial and residential hubs.
State agencies have targeted specific bottlenecks with distinct operational overhauls. The Department of Environmental Protection cut its Freshwater Wetlands Letter of Interpretation backlog by 74 percent, dropping pending applications that sat for over six months from 927 down to 240. These determinations are the mandatory first step for any property owner attempting to establish wetland boundaries before engineering design can begin.
Targeted Backlogs and Agency Reforms
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation posted an 83 percent drop in its Minor Access Permit backlog, clearing 523 stalled applications to bring the pending total from 653 down to 108. These permits govern how small- and medium-sized housing developments connect driveways to state highways. In addition, the DEP reduced its Remedial Action Permits backlog by 25 percent, easing the redevelopment of contaminated brownfield sites, while the DOT trimmed its Major Access Permit backlog by 19 percent.
Behind those figures lies a complete reorganization of how state offices handle volume. The DEP launched Operation FAST to fast-track clean energy installations, incorporating more than 25 solar and battery storage projects. The department also onboarded 49 new reviewers funded through the fiscal year 2027 budget. On the transportation side, NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain consolidated all permitting functions into a newly formed Division of Transportation Permitting, utilizing e-permitting data to deploy staff directly to high-delay zones.
“When I took office, I promised to save New Jerseyans time and money,” Governor Mikie Sherrill said in the administration’s announcement. “Slow permits mean higher costs for everyone, from families waiting on new homes to businesses ready to hire.”
Dan Kennedy, CEO of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Jersey Chapter (CREDA NJ), pointed to the wetlands reduction and cross-agency coordination as tangible improvements for the commercial real estate sector.
“By reducing unnecessary delays and uncertainty, these reforms can help move job-creating investments forward by lowering the cost and time required to expand economic opportunity across New Jersey,” Kennedy said.
Opening the Books at Permits.NJ.gov
To keep agencies accountable, the administration unveiled the public view of the New Jersey Permitting Dashboard Pilot at Permits.NJ.gov. The platform lets anyone track ten pilot projects across the DEP, DOT, and the Department of Community Affairs, viewing specific dates for completeness checks, technical reviews, and final decisions.
Senator Troy Singleton, prime sponsor of Senate bill S-1788 establishing fee refunds for delayed applicants, emphasized that modernizing state oversight is a matter of basic customer service.
“Applicants deserve clear requirements, reasonable timelines, and accountability when reviews fall behind,” Singleton said. “I’m proud to partner with Governor Sherrill to ensure government serves as a partner, not a hindrance, to getting projects and investments off the ground.”
Even with the reported gains, work remains. The DEP is currently tackling its Water Quality Management Program backlog, and the Department of Community Affairs is mapping out the municipal Uniform Construction Code process. Each agency faces a mandate to develop formal shot-clock timelines under Executive Order 5, which will be integrated into the public dashboard as those milestones are finalized.
