52:27D-313 Petition for substantive certification.

13. a. A municipality which has filed a housing element may, at any time during a two-year period following the filing of the housing element, petition the council for a substantive certification of its element and ordinances or institute an action for declaratory judgment granting it repose in the Superior Court, but in no event shall a grant of substantive certification extend beyond a 10-year period starting on the date the municipality files its housing element with the council. The municipality shall publish notice of its petition in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality and county and shall make available to the public information on the element and ordinances in accordance with such procedures as the council shall establish. The council shall also establish a procedure for providing public notice of each petition which it receives.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, a municipality which filed a housing element prior to the effective date of P.L.1990, c.121, shall be permitted to petition for substantive certification at any time within two years following that filing, or within one year following the effective date of P.L.1990, c.121, whichever shall result in permitting the municipality the longer period of time within which to petition.

The Council shall establish procedures for a realistic opportunity review at the midpoint of the certification period and shall provide for notice to the public.

L.1985,c.222,s.13; amended 1990, c.121; 2001, c.435, s.5.