Bill > A06165

This bill enacts the Wetlands Homeowner's Relief Act, which aims to provide relief to homeowners living in designated wetland areas by establishing three key provisions. First, homeowners currently residing in wetlands areas will not be required to obtain building permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for land use within 50 feet of their house and garage, effectively creating a permit-free buffer zone around residential structures. Second, the bill restricts the DEC from issuing new wetlands maps without prior legislative approval, which adds an additional layer of legislative oversight to mapping processes. Third, the bill prohibits the DEC from defining or delineating wetland boundaries beyond those already shown on official wetlands maps, which limits the potential expansion of wetland designations that could restrict property usage. These provisions are designed to provide more certainty and flexibility for property owners in wetland-designated areas, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and potential limitations on land use while maintaining existing environmental protections.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6165