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09 September 2018

When Cafra Permit Should Be Applied

By Carl Taylor


Coastal Area Facility Review Act is abbreviated as CAFRA. In the United States, CAFRA permit is the policy that provides authorization to members of the public regarding construction and construction-related undertakings that fall in the CAFRA zone. These are activities like relocation, expansion and/or demolition of public, residential, industrial or commercial infrastructure and constructions. The act also extends to activities related to putting up structures that protect the shore and grading or excavation among other site preparation activities.

The policy also goes ahead to define what it refers to as the CAFRA area. In the definition provided by the state, the area starts at the confluence of Cheesequake Creek, including Raritan Bay, which is located in the County of Middlesex. It then extends all the way south to Salem County. Some of the areas and counties covered within this area include Ocean, Atlantic, and Monmouth, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland counties.

The region has an inland limit that is unevenly marked. In most instances, the inland boundary is marked along public roads and differs from a few thousand feet to around 24 miles in width from the ocean. The maximum inland limit from the ocean is 24 miles. There are a number of sectors divided in the area, each with its own regulatory threshold.

Rules applicable in one sector may be different from those applicable in other sectors, as a result of the regulatory threshold differences. It is for this reason that individuals need to know their zones and the regulations applicable there. They need to get a permit referred to as a CAFRA license before they can undertake any construction work in the area. However, individuals found out of the borders of the CAFRA area do not require the permit.

Generally, one needs a permit if they intend to engage in any construction-related work that is located on a beach or dune within the CAFRA area. Secondly, the authorization is necessary if the structure is placed within 150 feet of the mean high water line of a tidal waterbody. The water body may be natural or manmade. For people whose projects are located 150 feet from the landward limit of a dune or beach with no intervening development, the authorization is needed.

However, there exist some exceptions in the application of these prerequisites. An example is where one does not need a permit if they are developing porches, decks, patios, verandas or balconies. Should these installations entail excavation, filling or grading, then authorization is necessary. Additionally, if a balcony, veranda, deck or porch is fitted with a roof, pool or an enclosure, then authorization is necessary.

In addition, putting in place a garden, fence, satellite dish, a landscape wall with the height of below one feet, or flower box does not require a permit. The installation done on a beach, wetland or dune is exempted from this regulation however. There exist a number of multiple other instances that this policy exempts that an individual needs to read and comprehend for the reason of understanding their application.

The general permits, permits by rule and the individual permits are the three main permit categories. Each permit covers an entirely different scope. Knowing which permit to apply can save one money and time.




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