NJ S2220

Municipal, county, and regional police and fire departments may adopt a five-year residency requirement for new hires, requiring applicants to agree to live in the jurisdiction they serve for their first five years of employment.

New employees have six months after completing all requisite training to relocate to the required jurisdiction; the Commissioner of Community Affairs must approve any municipal or county residency ordinance before it takes effect.

Exceptions to the residency requirement may be granted when an officer or firefighter faces injury or threats to themselves, their family, or property due to intimidation, investigation manipulation, or attempts to influence their official duties; hardship waivers may also be established.

Municipalities adopting residency requirements must provide incentives including using residency as a tie-breaker in promotional exams and establishing tuition reimbursement programs offering at least 20% of county college course costs after the five-year requirement is completed.

Current police and fire department members are exempt from residency requirements if they later join regional departments, joint meetings, or shared service agreements, unless they already reside in the served area.