Governor Sherrill's Executive Order No. 5 targets permit delays across the state — welcome news for families planning stairlifts, home elevators, and accessibility modifications.
When mobility challenges arise, every week matters. Whether you're recovering from surgery, managing a progressive condition, or helping an aging parent stay safely at home, waiting for permits can feel like an unnecessary obstacle between you and the solution you need.
On January 20, 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 5, a comprehensive reform aimed at streamlining permit processes across New Jersey. For homeowners planning accessibility modifications, this executive order signals a meaningful shift toward faster, more transparent project timelines.
Why Permit Reform Matters for Home Accessibility
Home accessibility projects — stairlift installations, home elevators, wheelchair lifts, and accessible bathroom renovations — often require permits from local and state agencies. Depending on your municipality and the scope of work, you may need building permits, electrical permits, or specialized elevator certifications.
The challenge has never been the permits themselves. The challenge has been unpredictability. Processing times vary widely from town to town. Communication can be inconsistent. And when you're counting the days until a loved one can safely navigate their own staircase, every delay compounds the difficulty.
Executive Order No. 5 addresses these pain points directly.
What Does Executive Order No. 5 Do?
Governor Sherrill's order establishes several new initiatives designed to reduce permit delays and improve accountability across state government.
Cross-Agency Permitting Team
The order creates a Cross-Agency Permitting Team under the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. This team is tasked with collecting data on permit processing times, identifying bottlenecks, and coordinating solutions across departments. Importantly, the team will serve as a one-stop resource to help applicants resolve issues that delay project approvals.
Permit Catalog Requirement
Every state agency that issues permits must catalog all permit types within 90 days. These catalogs will document each step in the approval process, expected timelines, associated fees, and recommendations for improving efficiency. This level of documentation has not previously existed in a centralized, standardized format.
Permitting Shot Clocks
Following the catalog process, the Cross-Agency Permitting Team will establish presumptive timeframes — referred to as "shot clocks" — for permit application processing. While these timeframes are not legally binding, they set clear expectations and create accountability for agencies to meet reasonable deadlines.
Public Permitting Dashboard
The order directs the creation of an online Permitting Dashboard where applicants can track the status of their permits in real time. This transparency tool eliminates the need to call multiple offices for updates and gives homeowners visibility into where their application stands.
Local Government Coordination
Recognizing that many permits involve both state and local agencies, the order specifically directs the permitting team to work with municipal governments to integrate and streamline overlapping processes. For homeowners in New Jersey, this coordination could reduce the back-and-forth between different offices.
Regulatory Simplification Team
A separate Regulatory Simplification Team will identify outdated or burdensome regulations and recommend modernization. This team is also charged with evaluating how technology — including artificial intelligence and third-party certification models — might expedite regulatory review without compromising safety.
How This Benefits Homeowners Planning Accessibility Modifications
The practical implications of Executive Order No. 5 touch several aspects of home accessibility projects.
Reduced wait times. Faster permit processing means less time between your decision to move forward and the start of installation. For families dealing with urgent mobility needs, this efficiency translates to real quality-of-life improvement.
Predictable project scheduling. With shot clocks and documented timelines, contractors can provide more accurate installation dates. You can plan around the project with greater confidence.
Transparent status updates. The Permitting Dashboard will allow you — or your contractor — to check permit status online rather than waiting for callbacks or navigating phone trees.
Consistency across New Jersey. Whether your project is in Atlantic County, Somerset County, or Bergen County, the goal is a more uniform permitting experience. This standardization benefits homeowners throughout the state.
Potential cost savings. Permit delays create inefficiencies that can increase project costs. Scheduling crews, coordinating equipment delivery, and managing subcontractors all become easier when permit timelines are predictable.
Which Home Accessibility Projects Require Permits?
Not every accessibility modification requires a permit, but many do. Projects that typically involve permitting include:
- Home Elevators — Building permits, electrical permits, and elevator-specific certifications are standard requirements for residential elevator and Homelift (Stiltz) installations in New Jersey.
- Wheelchair lifts and vertical platform lifts — These installations often fall under elevator or lift permit requirements, depending on the lift type and local regulations.
- Accessible bathroom renovations — Projects involving structural changes, plumbing modifications, or electrical work typically require permits.
Your contractor should handle permit applications and coordination as part of the project. If you're unsure whether your planned modification requires permits, ask during your initial consultation.
When Will These Changes Take Effect?
Executive Order No. 5 took effect immediately upon signing. However, the full implementation will roll out over the coming months.
State agencies have 90 days to submit their permit catalogs — a deadline of approximately mid-April 2026. The Cross-Agency Permitting Team will then analyze this information and begin establishing shot clocks and building the Permitting Dashboard.
Homeowners should expect to see incremental improvements throughout 2026 as these systems come online. The executive order represents a commitment to long-term reform rather than an overnight fix, but the direction is clear and the framework is now in place.
Moving Forward With Your Project
If you've been considering a stairlift, home elevator, or other accessibility modification, permit concerns should not hold you back. Experienced accessibility contractors navigate permit requirements daily and can guide you through the process regardless of where the state is in implementing these reforms.
Governor Sherrill's Executive Order No. 5 is a positive development for New Jersey homeowners. Faster permits, better communication, and increased accountability benefit everyone — especially families facing time-sensitive mobility challenges.
At Mobility123, we've helped New Jersey families with accessibility solutions for over 20 years. We handle permit coordination as part of our service, and we'll continue to advocate for efficient processes that get you safe in your home as quickly as possible.
Have questions about your project? Contact our team to discuss your needs and learn what to expect from the permit process in your area.
