Jersey City Advances Bird-Safe Building Standards After Prior Veto

City Council revives bird-safe building ordinance, balancing environmental protection and housing affordability concerns.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Jersey City Council is moving forward with revisions to the city's Land Development Ordinance, including a 'bird-safe buildings' provision aimed at reducing bird collisions with glass. This follows a previous veto of a bird-safe building ordinance by the former mayor over concerns about housing affordability and development burdens. Council members say they are seeking to balance environmental objectives with affordability and administrative capacity this time around.

Why it matters

Jersey City's location along the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America's primary migratory corridors, makes bird-safe building standards an important environmental consideration. However, the previous veto highlighted the need to carefully weigh these protections against potential impacts on housing costs and development in the city.

The details

The proposed changes update definitions and design standards for new construction, major renovations, and additions in Jersey City. The 'bird-safe buildings' provision is a response to the city's location along the Atlantic Flyway. Council members say they are moving carefully this time, seeking to balance environmental objectives with concerns about affordability and administrative capacity. Some council members expressed surprise at the ordinance's quick return to the agenda, noting that both city staff and advocates needed more time to review the language.

  • In 2025, former Mayor Steven Fulop vetoed a previous bird-safe building ordinance, citing concerns about housing affordability and development burdens.
  • The current effort to revise the Land Development Ordinance, including the bird-safe buildings provision, is happening in 2026.

The players

Steven Fulop

Former mayor of Jersey City who vetoed a previous bird-safe building ordinance in 2025.

Eleana Little

Jersey City Council member who expressed support for a bird-safe buildings ordinance but cited the need for refinement to avoid hurting affordability and overburdening the planning department.

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What they’re saying

“I think all of my council colleagues and myself were surprised to see it on the agenda. The advocates on both sides hadn't seen it yet, and planning staff had some changes they'd like to make based on staffing and capacity.”

— Eleana Little, Jersey City Council member (TAPinto Jersey City)

“I stated before my intention to work with my colleagues and introduce amendments. I do very much support having a bird-safe buildings ordinance on the books. We're at a really important place on the Atlantic Flyway, and the birds are a very important part of our ecosystem. I just want to make sure we're doing this in a way that doesn't hurt affordability and doesn't overburden the planning department.”

— Eleana Little, Jersey City Council member (TAPinto Jersey City)

What’s next

The ordinance will likely be revised before a second reading by the Jersey City Council. Any proposed amendments will be reviewed by the city's legal department to determine whether additional changes would require another public hearing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenge of balancing environmental protection, such as bird-safe building standards, with concerns about housing affordability and development impacts in growing cities like Jersey City. The council's careful approach to revising the ordinance suggests a desire to find a middle ground that addresses both ecological and economic considerations.