Jersey City Passes Bird-Safe Building Ordinance

New law requires bird-friendly design standards for certain buildings to reduce deadly collisions.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:19pm

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The Jersey City Council has formally adopted an ordinance requiring bird-friendly design standards for new buildings, additions, and major renovations. The measure aims to reduce deadly bird collisions with glass facades by mandating the use of patterned or treated glass in areas where birds are most likely to fly. The ordinance was passed after a lengthy public hearing with input from advocates and developers.

Why it matters

Jersey City's location along the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America's major migratory bird routes, makes the city a critical area for protecting birds. Glass facades on modern buildings can reflect the sky or vegetation, creating the illusion of open flight paths that lead to fatal collisions. This new ordinance aligns Jersey City with other cities like New York and Newark that have already implemented similar bird-safe building laws.

The details

The ordinance amends Jersey City's Land Development regulations to require bird-safe building materials or design treatments on portions of new buildings, additions, and major renovations where birds are most likely to collide with glass. Supporters say these features, such as patterned or treated glass, help make windows visible to birds and can significantly reduce deadly collisions. While some developers raised concerns about increased construction costs, advocates argued that bird-safe glass options are widely available and only make up a small fraction of a building's overall window budget.

  • The Jersey City Council formally adopted the ordinance on Wednesday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Jersey City Council

The governing body of Jersey City, New Jersey that passed the bird-safe building ordinance.

Angeline Jacques

A licensed architect and member of the American Institute of Architects who spoke in support of the ordinance, noting that bird-safe design requirements are already widely used and feasible for developers.

Councilwoman Eleana Little

A Jersey City Council member who thanked advocates on both sides of the issue and said the final version of the ordinance reflects months of discussion and revisions.

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What they’re saying

“The ordinance is reasonable and achievable, as New York City has been demonstrating for the last five years.”

— Angeline Jacques, Licensed architect and member of the American Institute of Architects

“We are at a critically important location on the Atlantic Flyway, and cities like New York and Newark already have similar laws. I'm proud of the work we did on this ordinance and excited to vote yes.”

— Councilwoman Eleana Little

What’s next

With the ordinance now adopted, bird-friendly design requirements will become part of the development review process for applicable projects moving forward in Jersey City.

The takeaway

This new bird-safe building ordinance in Jersey City, located along a major migratory bird route, demonstrates a growing trend of cities implementing policies to protect birds from deadly collisions with glass facades. The law strikes a balance between environmental concerns and development needs, showcasing how municipalities can take proactive steps to address this issue.