7:13-5.1 General provisions for applicability determinations
(a) A flood hazard area applicability determination is the Department's statement of whether an activity is regulated and, therefore, requires a permit under this chapter.
(b) An applicability determination is optional. However, if it is unclear whether a particular activity is regulated, the Department encourages applicants to obtain an applicability determination prior to commencing work since unauthorized regulated activities may result in enforcement action pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:13-19.
(c) An application for an applicability determination shall contain the following:
1. One copy of an application report, as described at N.J.A.C. 7:13-15.3; and
2. One set of drawings, signed and sealed by a engineer, land surveyor or architect, as appropriate, detailing the proposed activities. If fill or grading is proposed, the drawing shall show existing and proposed topography unless the Department determines that topography is not necessary to determine compliance with this chapter. All topography shall reference NGVD, or include the appropriate conversion factor to NGVD, unless the applicant demonstrates that such reference is not necessary.
(d) After reviewing an application for an applicability determination, the Department shall:
1. Notify the applicant that the application did not include all the material required at (c) above and request the missing information. The Department may cancel the request for an applicability determination if the missing information is not provided within 60 calendar days. Otherwise, when the requested material is received, the Department shall take one of the actions in (d)2 below; or
2. Inform the applicant in writing that:
i. The Department is unable to determine whether this chapter applies to the proposed activities because the limit of the flood hazard area and/or riparian zone onsite cannot be determined without additional information. Therefore, the Department shall not issue an applicability determination until the applicant obtains a verification under N.J.A.C. 7:13-6;
ii. This chapter does not apply to the proposed activity and no permit is required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:13-2.1, provided the chapter is not amended to establish stricter standards or conditions; or
iii. This chapter does apply to the proposed activities and the regulated activities must be conducted in accordance with a permit pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:13-2.1. The Department will also inform the applicant whether the proposed activities qualify for a permit-by-rule or whether an application for a general permit authorization or individual permit is necessary, provided the application contains sufficient detail regarding the proposed activities for the Department to make such a determination.
(e) Workload permitting, the Department shall make a final decision on an application for an applicability determination within 30 calendar days of receiving a complete application.
(f) Except as provided in (g) below, an applicability determination is valid for five years from its issuance date and shall not be extended. However, an applicant may request a new applicability determination to replace an expired one by submitting an application under (c) above. An applicability determination may also be transferred upon the sale of a property to which it applies to a new owner pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:13-14.1.
(g) If the Department determines under (d)2ii above that this chapter does not apply to a proposed activity, and this chapter is subsequently amended to put in place stricter standards or conditions such that the proposed activity becomes regulated, or else the Department amends the flood hazard area or riparian zone onsite such that the proposed activity now lies within one of these regulated areas, the applicability determination shall become void and the applicant shall obtain a permit pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:13-2.1
prior to commencing the regulated activities onsite.