Establishes fire protection requirements for short-term farm labor housing.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Ellen Park and 3 co-sponsors

Allows short-term farm labor housing (up to 3 months) with fire extinguishers, detectors, and safe egress to be deemed compliant with the State Uniform Construction Code.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Summary of Bill A-2515 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

Establishes fire protection requirements for short-term farm labor housing and formalizes when such housing can be considered compliant with the State Uniform Construction Code (UCC).

Aims to permit short-term farm labor housing that includes basic fire safety measures (extinguishers, early warning devices, and safe ingress/egress) to be treated as compliant with the UCC.

Key definitions

Seasonal worker: Uses the definition from section 2 of P.L.1945, c.71 (C.34:9A-2).

Short-term farm labor housing: A building providing housing or sleeping places to seasonal workers for up to three months, as part of a “farm labor camp” (defined in P.L.1945, c.71, C.34:9A-2).

Main provisions

Short-term farm labor housing that includes:

Fire extinguishers
Early warning fire protection devices (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors)
Ingress and egress (egress) standards
May be used as short-term farm labor housing and will be deemed compliant with the State UCC

The commissioner (implied to be the state official responsible for construction code administration) would adopt rules or regulations to implement the provisions of subsection b, pursuant to the State’s Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Administrative and regulatory actions

The Commissioner of Community Affairs is charged with adopting rules and regulations to modify the State Uniform Construction Code to reflect these provisions.

The act directs the Commissioner to adopt such rules by six months after enactment.

Effective date and timelines

The act takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

The Commissioner may take anticipatory action to implement provisions prior to the effective date.

By the first day of the sixth month after enactment, the Commissioner must adopt rules/regulations to implement the changes.

Who is affected

Short-term farm labor housing operators and developers that provide housing to seasonal workers for up to three months.

Local and state agencies involved in building code administration and enforcement.

Seasonal workers who reside in such short-term housing may benefit from enhanced fire safety protections.

Practical impact

Establishes a streamlined path for short-term farm labor housing to meet fire safety expectations without requiring separate, potentially more burdensome compliance, by recognizing compliant housing as meeting the UCC when equipped with specified fire safety features.

May influence construction, inspection, and permitting processes for farm labor camps by aligning them with fire safety standards.

Notable specifics

Fire safety features required for compliance: installation of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors, plus proper ingress/egress.

Maximum duration for “short-term” housing is three months.

The bill references explicit statutory anchors and regulatory procedures (UCC, APA) for implementation.

Action history (as of text)

Introduced on 2026-01-13; referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Co-sponsors listed: Bill Spearman, Heather Simmons, Ellen Park, Alex Sauickie.