A statewide Permit Extension Act was recently signed into law. Pursuant to this act, all development approvals granted after January 1, 2007 are automatically extended to July 1, 2010. Such approvals include building, plumbing, electrical and fire permits, Planning Board, Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Commission approvals including variances, subdivisions and site plans, and certain approvals issued by State agencies including the Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation.

Normally, development approvals expire after a designated period of time. The law was enacted in response to a downturn in the economy and the tightening of lending practices which have delayed the start of many approved construction projects. A similar law was enacted in 1992 due to an economic slowdown at that time.