Office of Legislative Services
Background Report
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s
Counties and Municipalities
OLS Background Report No.
162
Prepared By:
Local Government
Date Prepared:
October 12, 2007
New Jersey State Legislature
Office of Legislative Services
State House Annex, P.O. Box 68
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us
OLS Background Report On
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
INTRODUCTION
This background report discusses the powers of initiative and referendum in New Jersey
counties and municipalities.1 These powers grew out of the reform movement of the early 20th
century as an effort to enable the voters of a community to play a direct role in their local
government.
Initiative is the power enabling the voters to propose ordinances by petitioning their
governing body and to enact them by a referendum vote if the governing body declines to act.
Referendum is the power enabling the voters to veto the implementation of ordinances
enacted by the governing body.2
These powers are referred to as binding initiative and referenda, because their use results in
binding decisions of whether or not ordinances are adopted, and to distinguish them from nonbinding referenda, which is the power governing bodies may utilize to submit advisory questions to
the voters in order to “take the pulse” of the electorate.
In New Jersey, the governing bodies of all municipalities and counties have the power to hold
non-binding referenda pursuant to a general enabling statute, however, the powers of binding
initiative and referendum are available only in municipalities and counties that are governed under
certain forms of government.3 Governing bodies of municipalities and counties organized under
these forms of government are also afforded the power to submit proposed legislation to the voters
for approval or rejection. A few other municipalities are governed by special charters which provide
for binding initiative and referendum. One municipality is organized under an old form of
1
Also see OLS Background Report No. 153 for an overview of the subject of initiative and referendum.
“The power of referendum is a check on the exercise of local legislative power, fostering citizen involvement in the
political affairs of the community.” In re Referendum Petition to Repeal Ordinance 04-75, 2007 N.J. LEXIS 1066
(N.J. 2007)
3
Binding initiative and referendum is available in municipalities operating under an Optional Municipal Charter Law
(commonly known as the “Faulkner Act”) form of government, N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 et seq., or a commission form of
government under N.J.S.A. 40:70-1 et seq., commonly known as the “Walsh Act,” and counties that have adopted a
form of government under the “Optional County Charter Law,” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-1 et seq.
2
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 3
government that allows for certain referenda.4 There are also statutes that are applicable to all
municipalities that provide for referenda for specific matters.
NONBINDING REFERENDA - ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES
The governing body of any municipality or county may "ascertain the sentiment of the legal
voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or
internal affairs thereof" by adopting an ordinance or resolution at a regular meeting requesting that
the proposition appear on the ballot at the next general election. The request must be filed with the
county clerk no later than 74 days before the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 et seq.)
Once a municipal governing body has adopted a resolution or ordinance placing a nonbinding
proposition before the voters and transmitted the request to the county clerk, the voters of the
municipality have the power to place a reasonably related nonbinding question or policy before the
voters by presenting to the governing body a petition signed by 10% or more of the registered and
qualified voters of the municipality. The governing body must adopt a resolution at its next regular
meeting requesting the county clerk to print the proposition as formulated and expressed in the
petition on the ballot and must file the request with the clerk no later than 60 days prior to the
election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1)
Not every subject can be submitted to a nonbinding referendum. The courts have held that
issues such as state taxes, automobile insurance reform, school aid, and school district
deconsolidation could not be subjects of local nonbinding referenda because they were not questions
or policies pertaining to the government or internal affairs of the municipality or county.
Interestingly, the New Jersey Supreme Court has held that a municipality may hold a nonbinding
referendum on whether it should amend its zoning ordinance even though a provision of the
“Municipal Land Use Law” specifically prohibits zoning ordinances from being “submitted to or
adopted by initiative or referendum,” N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62b. The court held that the “Municipal Land
Use Law” (MLUL)
does not forbid voters from expressing their opinions on a proposed
zoning amendment by voting on a public question. Nothing in
section 62.b or in N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 precludes a governing body from
measuring the non-binding sentiment of the public. Non-binding
referenda, moreover, do not subvert the purpose of the MLUL. A
municipality must still conform, as the Borough conformed here, to
the procedural requirements of the MLUL. In the absence of an
express statutory provision to the contrary, we construe section 62.b
4
Lists displaying the 166 New Jersey municipalities in which the powers of binding initiative and referendum may be
utilized are appended to this backgrounder.
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 4
as not prohibiting a non-binding referendum under N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.
[Great Atl. & Pac. Tea Co. v. Borough of Point Pleasant, 137 N.J.
136 at 152 (1994)]
BINDING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDA
Some county and municipal governing bodies, because of their form of government, have the
power to place ordinances before the voters for approval. The voters in these counties and
municipalities also have the power to submit petitions to initiate local ordinances and to petition to
subject ordinances passed by their governing bodies to voter referendum. This section of this
backgrounder characterizes these “form of government specific” powers as general powers of
initiative and referendum to distinguish them from other statutes that provide for referenda for
specific purposes in all or certain types of municipalities. Referenda for specific purposes will be
discussed in a separate section of this backgrounder.
General powers of initiative and referendum exist in municipalities operating under the
Optional Municipal Charter Law (commonly referred to as the “Faulkner Act”), the commission
form of government (commonly referred to as the “Walsh Act”) and five other municipalities.
According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book (hereinafter the Data Book) these general
powers of initiative and referendum exist in 166 of the 566 New Jersey municipalities. According to
the Data Book, these 166 “I & R municipalities” have a combined 2003 estimated population of
4,900,579 people comprising 56.73% of the total estimated population of the State. General powers
of initiative and referendum also exist in the six counties operating under the “Optional County
Charter Law,” with a combined population of 3,456,052, comprising 40.01% of the 2003 total
estimated population for the State.
The “Walsh Act,” N.J.S.A. 40:70-1 et seq., originally enacted in 1911, was the first New
Jersey municipal charter law to provide voters with the powers of initiative and referendum.
According to the Data Book there are 32 municipalities operating under the commission form of
government pursuant to the “Walsh Act.” According to the 2003 total estimated population reported
in the Data Book, the population of those 32 municipalities is 360,156 comprising 4.17% of the State
total estimated population. The requirements and procedures for initiative and referenda under the
“Walsh Act” are found at N.J.S.A. 40:74-5 to 19.
The requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum under the “Faulkner Act,”
N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 et seq., are set forth at N.J.S.A. 40:69A-184 to 196. According to the Data Book
there are 129 municipalities that have adopted a form of government under the “Faulkner Act,”
including the ten most populous New Jersey municipalities. According to the 2003 total estimated
population reported in the Data Book, the population of those 129 municipalities is 4,321,523
comprising 50.03% of the State total estimated population.
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 5
Availability of Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey Municipalities
(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)
Form of
Government
Municipal Manager (1923)
Borough
City
Commission
OMCL:Council-Manager
OMCL:Mayor-Council
OMCL:Mayor-CouncilAdmin
OMCL:Small Muni
Special Charters
Town
Township
Village
TOTAL
Voters
Have
I&R
Power
Voters
Do Not Have
I&R
Power
Total Number of
Municipalities
0
0
1
32
42
67
7
218
14
0
0
0
7
218
15
32
42
67
2
18
4
0
0
0
166
0
0
7
9
144
1
400
2
18
11
9
144
1
566
Six counties, Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer and Union, have adopted provisions
of the “Optional County Charter Law,” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-1 et seq. The requirements and procedures
for initiative and referenda under the “Optional County Charter Law” are found at N.J.S.A. 40:41A104 to 116.
Most of the questions and problems regarding initiative and referendum in New Jersey fall
into one of two categories: whether the subject matter of a proposed initiative or referendum is
permissible, or whether the procedural requirements of the laws have been satisfied. The
requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum set forth in the “Walsh Act” and the
“Optional County Charter Law” are similar to those contained in the “Faulkner Act.” The
requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum under the “Faulkner Act” are described in
this backgrounder in detail. Inquiries concerning specific requirements for initiative and referendum
under other laws may be addressed to the Local Government Section of the Office of Legislative
Services.
Subject Matter of Initiative and Referendum
The laws authorizing initiative and referendum under the “Walsh Act,” the “Faulkner Act,”
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 6
and the “Optional County Charter Law” are broad5 but subject to limitations.6 For example, under
the “Walsh Act,” ordinances fixing the salaries of municipal employees cannot be the subject of
initiative or referendum. (N.J.S.A. 40:74-5 and -7)
The voters, working through the initiative process, are limited by the same constraints as is a
governing body when adopting an ordinance. For example, it has been held that just as a governing
body may not divest its successors of legislative powers, likewise an initiative ordinance may not
restrain the future exercise of municipal legislative power. Maese v. Snowden, 148 N.J. Super. 7
(N.J. Super. Ct. 1977).
Sometimes, courts find that a “comprehensive statutory scheme” evidences a “legislative
design to foreclose referendum or initiative.” Such was the case in We the People Committee, Inc. v.
City of Elizabeth, 325 N.J.Super. 329 (App. Div. 1999) where the court held that an ordinance to
privatize the city’s water distribution system pursuant to the “New Jersey Water Supply PublicPrivate Contracting Act,” N.J.S.A. 58:26-19, was not subject to the “Faulkner Act” referendum
process. Part of the court’s rationale was that the water contracting statute “afforded the public
ample opportunity to engage in debate on the issue.” We the People, Inc. at 335.
There are statutes that specifically exempt particular types of ordinances from a referendum
challenge. For example, the “Municipal Land Use Law” provides: “[n]o zoning ordinance and no
amendment or revision to any zoning ordinance shall be submitted to or adopted by initiative or
referendum” (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62 b.). The "Local Bond Law" provides that certain bond ordinances
are not subject to referendum (N.J.S.A. 40A:2-18). A provision of the "Local Budget Law"
exempts from referendum municipal ordinances adopting the State fiscal year (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-3.2).
Local budgets themselves cannot be made subject to voter referendum. Cuprowski v. Jersey
City, 101 N.J.Super. 15 (Law Div. 1968), aff’d o.b., 103 N.J.Super. 217 (App. Div. 1968), certif.
denied, 53 N.J. 80 (1968). This is because local budget ordinances take effect immediately, denying
the voters any time to file a petition to protest adoption of the ordinance. Other types of ordinances
do not take effect until 20 days after their passage in order to afford the voters a period of time to file
a petition against passage of the ordinance.
5
“Where the right of referendum is statutorily granted, however, the grant is to be liberally construed ‘to promote,
where appropriate, its beneficial effects.’” D'Ercole v. Norwood, 198 N.J. Super. 531, 543 (N.J. Super. Ct. 1984)
6
“[T]he Faulkner Act should be liberally construed for the purpose of effecting its salutary purposes of arousing
public interest and placing in the hands of the voters of those municipalities which adopt the act direct means of
controlling proposed or already enacted municipal legislation and also of accomplishing the enactment of legislation
which has neither been proposed nor adopted. However, the Faulkner Act does not imbue initiative-proposed
ordinances with any qualities different from other ordinances. Only municipal legislation that may be enacted by the
governing body itself may be the subject of an initiative proceeding.” Maese v. Snowden, 148 N.J. Super. 7, 12
(N.J. Super. Ct. 1977) (citations omitted).
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 7
The court in Cuprowski went further than the holding of the case by carving out a judicial
exception to the statutes that govern binding referenda, distinguishing between “ordinances of a
legislative nature” and “ordinances of an executive or administrative nature” and theorizing that the
Legislature intended the right of referendum to apply only to legislative ordinances.7 This
legislative/administrative dichotomy took hold and courts utilized the distinction for many years,
often depriving the voters of their ability to protest against ordinances deemed to be administrative.
However, the court recently took a very different position on this subject.
On September 26, 2007 the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously rendered an opinion
holding that a plain-language interpretation of the “Faulkner Act’s” referendum statute clearly
provides that the “power of referendum” applies to “any ordinance.” See, In re Referendum Petition
to Repeal Ordinance 04-75, 2007 N.J. LEXIS 1066 (N.J. 2007). The court explicitly addressed
Cuprowski and its progeny by stating that the judiciary has no authority to qualify the referendum
statute. Justice Albin, writing for the court, criticized the Cuprowski line of cases as a judicial
attempt to impose its own public policy concerns before those of the Legislature. “It is the function
of the Legislature, not the courts, to determine how much direct democracy through referendum
should be conferred on the voters of a municipality. Our role is to construe the statute, not to impose
our policy preferences, particularly when to do so inhibits voter participation.”
It will be of great interest to observe the impact of this case upon referendum petitions filed
in the future.
“FAULKNER ACT” MUNICIPALITIES
The “Faulkner Act” provisions governing initiative and referendum are found at N.J.S.A.
40:69A-184 et seq.
Requirements specific to the Power of Initiative
How do the voters initiate an ordinance?
The initiative process is commenced when a petition signed by a sufficient number of the
municipality's or county’s legal voters is submitted to the governing body. A petition can be
7
See: Millennium Towers Urban Renewal v. Mun. Council of Jersey City, 343 N.J. Super. 367 (Law Div., 2001) for
a discussion of how difficult it can sometimes be to distinguish between legislative and administrative acts. In that
case, the court held that an ordinance granting a taxpayer a 20-year tax abatement pursuant to the “Long Term Tax
Exemption Law,” N.J.S.A. 40A:20-1, was not subject to referendum under the “Faulkner Act” even though it
recognized that awarding the tax abatement was a legislative act. The basis for the court’s determination was that the
“Long Term Tax Exemption Law” was an “integral part” of another law, the “Local Redevelopment and Housing
Law,” N.J.S.A. 40A:12-1 et seq., which contains a provision specifically protecting ordinances adopted pursuant
thereto from initiative or referendum. (N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-28)
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 8
submitted to the council if it is signed by either:
(1) a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to
at least 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last
election at which members of the General Assembly were elected; or
(2) a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to
at least 10% but less than 15% of the total votes cast in the
municipality at the last election at which members of the General
Assembly were elected. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-184)
The difference between the two options is that the first provides an opportunity for the
ordinance to be placed on the ballot in a special election and the second does not. If an initiative
petition contains the required number of signatures set forth in (1) above, the ordinance will be put
on the ballot at a special election if there is no general or regular municipal election occurring
between 40 and 90 days after the final date for withdrawal of the petition. The special election will
be held between 40 and 60 days from the final date for withdrawal of the petition. If an initiative
petition contains the required number of signatures set forth in (2) above, the ordinance will be
submitted to the voters at the next general or regular municipal election occurring at least 40 days
after the final date for withdrawal of the petition. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-192)
Requirements specific to the Power of Referendum
How do the voters subject an ordinance passed by the governing body to public referendum?
In all but certain specific cases, an ordinance passed by the governing body does not take
effect until 20 days after the date of its final passage and approval. Within that 20-day period, if the
voters file a legally correct petition protesting against passage of the ordinance with the municipal
clerk, and the petition is signed by a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to at least
15% of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last election at which members of the General
Assembly were elected, the ordinance is suspended from taking effect until either the council repeals
the ordinance, the ordinance is submitted to the voters, or the referendum petition is withdrawn.
(N.J.S.A.40:69A-185)
When a referendum petition is filed with the municipal clerk, the ordinance in question is
suspended until 10 days following a finding by the clerk that the petition is insufficient or, if an
amended petition is filed, until five days after that. If the petition or amended petition is found to be
sufficient, the ordinance is suspended until the petition is withdrawn by the Committee of the
Petitioners, until the municipal council repeals the ordinance, or until the ordinance is approved or
rejected by the voters at the polls. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-189)
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 9
If an ordinance is to be submitted to the voters in a referendum election, it is done at the next
general or regular municipal election occurring from 40 to 90 days after the final date for withdrawal
of the petition. However, if no general or regular election is scheduled to be held in the municipality
within that time period, then the council will provide for a special election to be held on the question
during that time period. In any instance where a referendum election is to be held as a result of an
ordinance passed by the council which by its terms or by law cannot become effective in the
municipality unless it is submitted to the voters, or which by its terms authorizes a referendum in the
municipality concerning the subject matter thereof, the time for submission of the question to the
voters is calculated from the date of the final passage and approval of the ordinance. (N.J.S.A.
40:69A-192)
Requirements common to the Powers of Initiative and Referendum
Who is responsible for an initiative or referendum petition?
A group of voters, known as the Committee of the Petitioners, is responsible for circulating
and filing an initiative or referendum petition, and for the petition's possible withdrawal.
Are there technical requirements for compiling a petition?
Petition papers must be uniform in size and style, and must contain the full text of the
proposed ordinance. (For detailed specifications of petition papers, see N.J.S.A. 40:69A-186.) Also
see N.J.S.A. 1:5-3 which provides that each page of a petition must have double spacing between the
signature lines of the petition so that each signer is afforded sufficient space to provide his or her
printed name, address and signature.
Where is a petition filed and who determines if a petition is sufficient?
Petition papers are filed with the municipal clerk who, within 20 days of that filing, must
determine whether the petition is legally correct in form and has been signed by a sufficient number
of qualified voters. Upon completion of that examination, the clerk must certify the results to the
council at its next regular meeting. In the event the clerk determines that the petition is defective or
insufficient, the particulars of the defect or insufficiency must be set forth in the certificate. The
clerk is required to notify at least two members of the Committee of the Petitioners of the clerk's
findings. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-187)
Can defective petitions be corrected?
The Committee of the Petitioners may amend its petition within 10 days after being served
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 10
with the notification of insufficiency. Within five days after a supplementary petition is filed, the
clerk must examine the amendment and if the petition is still insufficient, the clerk must notify the
Committee of the Petitioners of the clerk's findings and file a certificate as to the insufficiency in the
clerk's office. While no further action is taken on an insufficient petition, the finding of insufficiency
does not prevent the filing of a new petition for the same purpose. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-188)
What happens when a petition is determined to be sufficient?
If the clerk finds that a petition or amended petition is sufficient, the clerk must submit the
petition to the municipal council without delay. An ordinance initiated by petition is deemed to have
had first reading when submitted to council and the council must hold a public hearing on it.
(N.J.S.A. 40:69A-190) The council has 20 days following the submission of a sufficient petition to
pass an ordinance requested by an initiative petition in substantially the form requested, or to repeal
an ordinance as requested by a referendum petition. If the council fails to so act within that time, the
clerk is required to submit the ordinance to the voters.
Can the Committee of the Petitioners withdraw a petition?
Within 10 days after “final adverse action” by the council or after the expiration of the time
allowed for that action, the Committee of the Petitioners may file a request with the clerk, signed by
at least four of the five members of the committee, asking that the petition be withdrawn, at which
point it ceases to have any force or effect. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-191)
Are there any safeguards to protect a municipality from having to hold frequent special elections?
While the “Faulkner Act” allows any number of proposed ordinances to be voted upon at the
same election, it prohibits more than one special election from being held in any six-month period.
During that six-month period, any ordinance which would otherwise be submitted to the voters at a
special election, if one were not already scheduled, must be placed on the ballot at the scheduled
special election if there are at least 30 days remaining between the final date for withdrawal of the
petition and the date of the scheduled special election. Otherwise, the ordinance is voted upon at the
next general election or regular municipal election, whichever occurs first. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-193)
What happens after the election?
If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of a proposed ordinance, it becomes a valid and
binding ordinance of the municipality. An ordinance adopted by referendum cannot be amended or
repealed within three years of its adoption except by another referendum. A governing body may
submit to the voters at any general or regular municipal election held during that three-year period a
proposition to repeal or amend an ordinance adopted at the polls. If the provisions of two or more
measures approved or adopted at the same election conflict, then the measure receiving the greatest
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 11
affirmative vote shall control. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-196)
OTHER FORMS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT WITH POWERS OF
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM:
Change of Government:
"The municipal manager form of government law," N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq., may be adopted
by referendum put onto the ballot by a petition of at least 15% of the number of legal voters of the
municipality in the most recent election of members of the General Assembly. Similarly, the “Walsh
Act” allows voters to petition for the enactment or abandonment of a commission form of
government, and the “Faulkner Act” allows for the adoption, modification or abandonment of a
charter form of government by referendum.
Special Charters:
Eleven New Jersey municipalities have been incorporated pursuant to special acts of the
Legislature since the New Jersey Constitution of 1947 was adopted. A review of the special charters
reveals that three municipalities, Middletown Township (P.L.1971, c.237), Montville Township
(P.L.1974, c.95), and Plainfield City (P.L.1968, c.159), provide their voters with initiative and
referendum powers. In addition, Tenafly Borough, which generally operates under the borough form
of government pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:60-1 et seq., has provided its voters with the powers of
initiative and referendum pursuant to P.L.1980, c.99, which was specifically enacted to provide those
powers. These four municipalities' initiative and referendum procedures are similar to those set forth
in the “Walsh Act” and the “Faulkner Act”; however, certain of the specific requirements such as
percentages of voters and timing requirements, differ from those statutes and from each other.
Finally, one city, East Orange, operates under P.L.1963, c.149 which provides voters with initiative
and referendum powers. According to the Data Book the 2003 total estimated population for these
five municipalities is 218,900 comprising 2.53% of the total estimated population of the State.
MISCELLANEOUS REFERENDA AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES:
In addition to the referenda discussed above, there are a variety of other referenda available to
all municipalities and to municipalities organized under certain forms of government. These
provisions are scattered throughout the statutes and comprise a variety of topics. Illustrative of these
provisions are:
N.J.S.A. 5:8-43 et al. Submission to voters whether to allow Bingo games.
N.J.S.A. 5:8-70 et al. Submission to voters whether to allow raffles.
Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities
October 12, 2007
Page 12
N.J.S.A. 5:8-116 et al. Petition to allow Amusement Games.
N.J.S.A. 11A:9-1 et seq. Petition to adopt Civil Service in County, Municipality.
N.J.S.A. 33:1-44 et al. Municipal referendum on retail sales of alcoholic beverages.
N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.1 et seq. Referenda to impose county, municipal open space tax.
N.J.S.A. 40:43-66.35 et seq. Referenda concerning consolidation of municipalities.
N.J.S.A. 40:54-1 et seq. Referenda to establish a public library.
N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.3 et al. Referenda to exceed local budget cap.
N.J.S.A. 40A:9-152 Referenda to provide municipal treasurer with tenure.
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-41. Referenda to convert volunteer to paid fire department.
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq. Referenda to establish Length of Service Award Program.
N.J.S.A. 40A:65-32 Referenda to establish commission concerning consolidation.
APPENDIX
Appended hereto you will find lists of the 166 New Jersey Municipalities with the powers of
initiative and referendum. The lists sort the data alphabetically by municipality, alphabetically by
county, by population and by form of government.
For further information, contact:
Robert C. Rothberg
Office of Legislative Services
(609) 292-1596
[email protected]
NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM
(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)
Sorted Alphabetically by Municipality
Municipality
County
2003
Estimated Population
Form of
Municipal
Government
Aberdeen Twp.
Allamuchy Twp.
Allenhurst Boro
Atlantic City
Audubon Boro
Avalon Boro
Avon-By-The-Sea Boro
Bass River Twp.
Bayonne City
Beach Haven Boro
Belleville Twp.
Belmar Boro
Berkeley Twp.
Berlin Twp.
Bordentown City
Bradley Beach Boro
Brick Twp.
Bridgeton City
Bridgewater Twp.
Brigantine City
Burlington City
Burlington Twp.
Byram Twp.
Camden City
Cape May City
Cape May Point Boro
Cedar Grove Twp.
Cherry Hill Twp.
Chester Twp.
Clark Twp.
Clinton Twp.
Collingswood Boro
Deal Boro
Delran Twp.
Denville Twp.
Deptford Twp.
Dover Twp.
East Brunswick Twp.
East Hanover Twp.
Monmouth
Warren
Monmouth
Atlantic
Camden
Cape May
Monmouth
Burlington
Hudson
Ocean
Essex
Monmouth
Ocean
Camden
Burlington
Monmouth
Ocean
Cumberland
Somerset
Atlantic
Burlington
Burlington
Sussex
Camden
Cape May
Cape May
Essex
Camden
Morris
Union
Hunterdon
Camden
Monmouth
Burlington
Morris
Gloucester
Ocean
Middlesex
Morris
18,723
3,945
706
40,385
9,118
2,155
2,233
1,562
60,905
1,310
35,604
5,975
42,247
5,360
4,013
4,770
78,379
22,785
43,999
12,631
9,809
21,784
8,556
80,089
3,923
242
12,266
71,081
7,668
14,707
13,768
14,220
1,071
16,569
15,932
28,055
93,671
48,337
11,449
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
East Orange City
East Windsor Twp.
Eastampton Twp.
Edison Twp.
Elizabeth City
Estell Manor City
Evesham Twp.
Ewing Twp.
Fair Lawn Boro
Fairfield Twp.
Florence Twp.
Franklin Twp.
Galloway Twp.
Gloucester Twp.
Greenwich Twp.
Haddon Heights Boro
Haddonfield Boro
Hamilton Twp.
Harvey Cedars Boro
Hawthorne Boro
Highlands Boro
Hillside Twp.
Hoboken City
Howell Twp.
Irvington Twp.
Island Heights Boro
Jefferson Twp.
Jersey City
Keansburg Boro
Lambertville City
Lawrence Twp.
Lincoln Park Boro
Little Falls Twp.
Livingston Twp.
Logan Twp.
Long Beach Twp.
Long Branch City
Longport Boro
Lopatcong Twp.
Lower Twp.
Lyndhurst Twp.
Mahwah Twp.
Manchester Twp.
Maple Shade Twp.
Margate City
Marlboro Twp.
Medford Lakes Boro
Middletown Twp.
Essex
Mercer
Burlington
Middlesex
Union
Atlantic
Burlington
Mercer
Bergen
Essex
Burlington
Somerset
Atlantic
Camden
Gloucester
Camden
Camden
Mercer
Ocean
Passaic
Monmouth
Union
Hudson
Monmouth
Essex
Ocean
Morris
Hudson
Monmouth
Hunterdon
Mercer
Morris
Passaic
Essex
Gloucester
Ocean
Monmouth
Atlantic
Warren
Cape May
Bergen
Bergen
Ocean
Burlington
Atlantic
Monmouth
Burlington
Monmouth
69,212
26,694
6,657
100,138
123,215
1,657
46,111
36,535
31,585
7,442
11,247
54,977
34,221
65,963
5,001
7,495
11,616
89,632
373
18,363
5,367
21,902
39,482
50,130
60,057
1,835
20,586
239,097
10,746
3,880
30,967
10,870
11,947
27,972
6,015
3,428
31,523
1,054
7,837
22,518
19,461
24,460
42,228
19,269
8,328
38,859
4,205
66,357
CITY
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
SPEC.CHART
Millville City
Mine Hill Twp.
Monmouth Beach Boro
Monroe Twp.
Monroe Twp.
Montclair Twp.
Montville Twp.
Moorestown Twp.
Morristown Town
Mount Ephraim Boro
Mount Holly Twp.
Mount Laurel Twp.
Mount Olive Twp.
Mountain Lakes Boro
New Brunswick City
Newark
Newton Town
North Bergen Twp.
North Brunswick Twp.
North Plainfield Boro
Nutley Twp.
Ocean City
Ocean Twp.
Old Bridge Twp.
Orange Twp.
Parsippany-Troy Hills
Twp.
Passaic City
Paterson City
Pemberton Twp.
Pequannock Twp.
Perth Amboy City
Phillipsburg Town
Pine Valley Boro
Piscataway Twp.
Plainfield City
Pohatcong Twp.
Rahway City
Randolph Twp.
Ridgefield Park Village
Ridgewood Village
Ringwood Boro
Rivervale Twp.
Rockaway Twp.
Roxbury Twp.
Saddle Brook Twp.
Scotch Plains Twp.
Sea Isle City
South Amboy City
Cumberland
Morris
Monmouth
Gloucester
Middlesex
Essex
Morris
Burlington
Morris
Camden
Burlington
Burlington
Morris
Morris
Middlesex
Essex
Sussex
Hudson
Middlesex
Somerset
Essex
Cape May
Monmouth
Middlesex
Essex
Morris
27,119
3,681
3,619
30,427
31,494
38,584
21,205
19,932
18,816
4,497
10,771
40,523
25,449
4,307
49,803
277,911
8,389
58,445
38,404
21,091
28,091
15,558
27,693
63,663
32,556
51,247
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Passaic
Passaic
Burlington
Morris
Middlesex
Warren
Camden
Middlesex
Union
Warren
Union
Morris
Bergen
Bergen
Passaic
Bergen
Morris
Morris
Bergen
Union
Cape May
Middlesex
68,528
150,782
28,938
14,506
48,447
15,177
22
52,055
48,025
3,438
26,779
25,575
12,781
24,831
12,704
9,729
25,039
23,774
13,144
22,945
2,957
8,032
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
South Brunswick Twp.
Sparta Twp.
Spotswood Boro
Springfield Twp.
Stafford Twp.
Tavistock Boro
Teaneck Twp.
Tenafly Boro
Tinton Falls Boro
Trenton City
Union City
Ventnor City
Vernon Twp.
Verona Twp.
Vineland City
Washington Boro
Washington Twp.
Washington Twp.
Wayne Twp.
Weehawken Twp.
West Cape May Boro
West Milford Twp.
West New York Town
West Orange Twp.
West Paterson Boro
West Wildwood Boro
West Windsor Twp.
Wildwood City
Wildwood Crest Boro
Willingboro Twp.
Woodbridge Twp.
Middlesex
Sussex
Middlesex
Burlington
Ocean
Camden
Bergen
Bergen
Monmouth
Mercer
Hudson
Atlantic
Sussex
Essex
Cumberland
Warren
Bergen
Gloucester
Passaic
Hudson
Cape May
Passaic
Hudson
Essex
Passaic
Cape May
Mercer
Cape May
Cape May
Burlington
Middlesex
40,181
19,220
8,236
3,504
24,318
27
39,815
14,101
15,975
85,314
66,573
12,778
25,439
13,402
57,057
6,829
9,498
50,386
55,262
13,348
1,095
27,926
46,348
45,069
11,255
430
24,094
5,260
3,884
33,090
100,866
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C-A
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM
(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)
Sorted Alphabetically by County
Municipality
County
2003
Estimated
Population
Form of
Municipal
Government
Atlantic City
Brigantine City
Estell Manor City
Galloway Twp.
Longport Boro
Margate City
Ventnor City
Fair Lawn Boro
Lyndhurst Twp.
Mahwah Twp.
Ridgefield Park Village
Ridgewood Village
Rivervale Twp.
Saddle Brook Twp.
Teaneck Twp.
Tenafly Boro
Washington Twp.
Bass River Twp.
Bordentown City
Burlington City
Burlington Twp.
Delran Twp.
Eastampton Twp.
Evesham Twp.
Florence Twp.
Maple Shade Twp.
Medford Lakes Boro
Moorestown Twp.
Mount Holly Twp.
Mount Laurel Twp.
Pemberton Twp.
Springfield Twp.
Willingboro Twp.
Audubon Boro
Berlin Twp.
Camden City
Cherry Hill Twp.
Collingswood Boro
Gloucester Twp.
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
40,385
12,631
1,657
34,221
1,054
8,328
12,778
31,585
19,461
24,460
12,781
24,831
9,729
13,144
39,815
14,101
9,498
1,562
4,013
9,809
21,784
16,569
6,657
46,111
11,247
19,269
4,205
19,932
10,771
40,523
28,938
3,504
33,090
9,118
5,360
80,089
71,081
14,220
65,963
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
Haddon Heights Boro
Haddonfield Boro
Mount Ephraim Boro
Pine Valley Boro
Tavistock Boro
Avalon Boro
Cape May City
Cape May Point Boro
Lower Twp.
Ocean City
Sea Isle City
West Cape May Boro
West Wildwood Boro
Wildwood City
Wildwood Crest Boro
Bridgeton City
Millville City
Vineland City
Belleville Twp.
Cedar Grove Twp.
East Orange City
Fairfield Twp.
Irvington Twp.
Livingston Twp.
Montclair Twp.
Newark
Nutley Twp.
Orange Twp.
Verona Twp.
West Orange Twp.
Deptford Twp.
Greenwich Twp.
Logan Twp.
Monroe Twp.
Washington Twp.
Bayonne City
Hoboken City
Jersey City
North Bergen Twp.
Union City
Weehawken Twp.
West New York Town
Clinton Twp.
Lambertville City
East Windsor Twp.
Ewing Twp.
Hamilton Twp.
Lawrence Twp.
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Hunterdon
Hunterdon
Mercer
Mercer
Mercer
Mercer
7,495
11,616
4,497
22
27
2,155
3,923
242
22,518
15,558
2,957
1,095
430
5,260
3,884
22,785
27,119
57,057
35,604
12,266
69,212
7,442
60,057
27,972
38,584
277,911
28,091
32,556
13,402
45,069
28,055
5,001
6,015
30,427
50,386
60,905
39,482
239,097
58,445
66,573
13,348
46,348
13,768
3,880
26,694
36,535
89,632
30,967
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
CITY
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
Trenton City
West Windsor Twp.
East Brunswick Twp.
Edison Twp.
Monroe Twp.
New Brunswick City
North Brunswick Twp.
Old Bridge Twp.
Perth Amboy City
Piscataway Twp.
South Amboy City
South Brunswick Twp.
Spotswood Boro
Woodbridge Twp.
Aberdeen Twp.
Allenhurst Boro
Avon-By-The-Sea Boro
Belmar Boro
Bradley Beach Boro
Deal Boro
Highlands Boro
Howell Twp.
Keansburg Boro
Long Branch City
Marlboro Twp.
Middletown Twp.
Monmouth Beach Boro
Ocean Twp.
Tinton Falls Boro
Chester Twp.
Denville Twp.
East Hanover Twp.
Jefferson Twp.
Lincoln Park Boro
Mine Hill Twp.
Montville Twp.
Morristown Town
Mount Olive Twp.
Mountain Lakes Boro
Parsippany-Troy Hills
Twp.
Pequannock Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Rockaway Twp.
Roxbury Twp.
Beach Haven Boro
Berkeley Twp.
Brick Twp.
Dover Twp.
Mercer
Mercer
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
85,314
24,094
48,337
100,138
31,494
49,803
38,404
63,663
48,447
52,055
8,032
40,181
8,236
100,866
18,723
706
2,233
5,975
4,770
1,071
5,367
50,130
10,746
31,523
38,859
66,357
3,619
27,693
15,975
7,668
15,932
11,449
20,586
10,870
3,681
21,205
18,816
25,449
4,307
51,247
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
14,506
25,575
25,039
23,774
1,310
42,247
78,379
93,671
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Harvey Cedars Boro
Island Heights Boro
Long Beach Twp.
Manchester Twp.
Stafford Twp.
Hawthorne Boro
Little Falls Twp.
Passaic City
Paterson City
Ringwood Boro
Wayne Twp.
West Milford Twp.
West Paterson Boro
Bridgewater Twp.
Franklin Twp.
North Plainfield Boro
Byram Twp.
Newton Town
Sparta Twp.
Vernon Twp.
Clark Twp.
Elizabeth City
Hillside Twp.
Plainfield City
Rahway City
Scotch Plains Twp.
Allamuchy Twp.
Lopatcong Twp.
Phillipsburg Town
Pohatcong Twp.
Washington Boro
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Somerset
Somerset
Somerset
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex
Union
Union
Union
Union
Union
Union
Warren
Warren
Warren
Warren
Warren
373
1,835
3,428
42,228
24,318
18,363
11,947
68,528
150,782
12,704
55,262
27,926
11,255
43,999
54,977
21,091
8,556
8,389
19,220
25,439
14,707
123,215
21,902
48,025
26,779
22,945
3,945
7,837
15,177
3,438
6,829
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM
(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)
Sorted by Population
Municipality
County
2003
Estimated
Population
Form of
Municipal
Government
Newark
Jersey City
Paterson City
Elizabeth City
Woodbridge Twp.
Edison Twp.
Dover Twp.
Hamilton Twp.
Trenton City
Camden City
Brick Twp.
Cherry Hill Twp.
East Orange City
Passaic City
Union City
Middletown Twp.
Gloucester Twp.
Old Bridge Twp.
Bayonne City
Irvington Twp.
North Bergen Twp.
Vineland City
Wayne Twp.
Franklin Twp.
Piscataway Twp.
Parsippany-Troy Hills
Twp.
Washington Twp.
Howell Twp.
New Brunswick City
Perth Amboy City
East Brunswick Twp.
Plainfield City
West New York Town
Evesham Twp.
West Orange Twp.
Bridgewater Twp.
Berkeley Twp.
Manchester Twp.
Essex
Hudson
Passaic
Union
Middlesex
Middlesex
Ocean
Mercer
Mercer
Camden
Ocean
Camden
Essex
Passaic
Hudson
Monmouth
Camden
Middlesex
Hudson
Essex
Hudson
Cumberland
Passaic
Somerset
Middlesex
Morris
277,911
239,097
150,782
123,215
100,866
100,138
93,671
89,632
85,314
80,089
78,379
71,081
69,212
68,528
66,573
66,357
65,963
63,663
60,905
60,057
58,445
57,057
55,262
54,977
52,055
51,247
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
CITY
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Gloucester
Monmouth
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Union
Hudson
Burlington
Essex
Somerset
Ocean
Ocean
50,386
50,130
49,803
48,447
48,337
48,025
46,348
46,111
45,069
43,999
42,247
42,228
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Mount Laurel Twp.
Atlantic City
South Brunswick Twp.
Teaneck Twp.
Hoboken City
Marlboro Twp.
Montclair Twp.
North Brunswick Twp.
Ewing Twp.
Belleville Twp.
Galloway Twp.
Willingboro Twp.
Orange Twp.
Fair Lawn Boro
Long Branch City
Monroe Twp.
Lawrence Twp.
Monroe Twp.
Pemberton Twp.
Nutley Twp.
Deptford Twp.
Livingston Twp.
West Milford Twp.
Ocean Twp.
Millville City
Rahway City
East Windsor Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Mount Olive Twp.
Vernon Twp.
Rockaway Twp.
Ridgewood Village
Mahwah Twp.
Stafford Twp.
West Windsor Twp.
Roxbury Twp.
Scotch Plains Twp.
Bridgeton City
Lower Twp.
Hillside Twp.
Burlington Twp.
Montville Twp.
North Plainfield Boro
Jefferson Twp.
Moorestown Twp.
Lyndhurst Twp.
Maple Shade Twp.
Sparta Twp.
Burlington
Atlantic
Middlesex
Bergen
Hudson
Monmouth
Essex
Middlesex
Mercer
Essex
Atlantic
Burlington
Essex
Bergen
Monmouth
Middlesex
Mercer
Gloucester
Burlington
Essex
Gloucester
Essex
Passaic
Monmouth
Cumberland
Union
Mercer
Morris
Morris
Sussex
Morris
Bergen
Bergen
Ocean
Mercer
Morris
Union
Cumberland
Cape May
Union
Burlington
Morris
Somerset
Morris
Burlington
Bergen
Burlington
Sussex
40,523
40,385
40,181
39,815
39,482
38,859
38,584
38,404
36,535
35,604
34,221
33,090
32,556
31,585
31,523
31,494
30,967
30,427
28,938
28,091
28,055
27,972
27,926
27,693
27,119
26,779
26,694
25,575
25,449
25,439
25,039
24,831
24,460
24,318
24,094
23,774
22,945
22,785
22,518
21,902
21,784
21,205
21,091
20,586
19,932
19,461
19,269
19,220
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
Morristown Town
Aberdeen Twp.
Hawthorne Boro
Delran Twp.
Tinton Falls Boro
Denville Twp.
Ocean City
Phillipsburg Town
Clark Twp.
Pequannock Twp.
Collingswood Boro
Tenafly Boro
Clinton Twp.
Verona Twp.
Weehawken Twp.
Saddle Brook Twp.
Ridgefield Park Village
Ventnor City
Ringwood Boro
Brigantine City
Cedar Grove Twp.
Little Falls Twp.
Haddonfield Boro
East Hanover Twp.
West Paterson Boro
Florence Twp.
Lincoln Park Boro
Mount Holly Twp.
Keansburg Boro
Burlington City
Rivervale Twp.
Washington Twp.
Audubon Boro
Byram Twp.
Newton Town
Margate City
Spotswood Boro
South Amboy City
Lopatcong Twp.
Chester Twp.
Haddon Heights Boro
Fairfield Twp.
Washington Boro
Eastampton Twp.
Logan Twp.
Belmar Boro
Highlands Boro
Berlin Twp.
Morris
Monmouth
Passaic
Burlington
Monmouth
Morris
Cape May
Warren
Union
Morris
Camden
Bergen
Hunterdon
Essex
Hudson
Bergen
Bergen
Atlantic
Passaic
Atlantic
Essex
Passaic
Camden
Morris
Passaic
Burlington
Morris
Burlington
Monmouth
Burlington
Bergen
Bergen
Camden
Sussex
Sussex
Atlantic
Middlesex
Middlesex
Warren
Morris
Camden
Essex
Warren
Burlington
Gloucester
Monmouth
Monmouth
Camden
18,816
18,723
18,363
16,569
15,975
15,932
15,558
15,177
14,707
14,506
14,220
14,101
13,768
13,402
13,348
13,144
12,781
12,778
12,704
12,631
12,266
11,947
11,616
11,449
11,255
11,247
10,870
10,771
10,746
9,809
9,729
9,498
9,118
8,556
8,389
8,328
8,236
8,032
7,837
7,668
7,495
7,442
6,829
6,657
6,015
5,975
5,367
5,360
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
SPEC.CHART
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
Wildwood City
Greenwich Twp.
Bradley Beach Boro
Mount Ephraim Boro
Mountain Lakes Boro
Medford Lakes Boro
Bordentown City
Allamuchy Twp.
Cape May City
Wildwood Crest Boro
Lambertville City
Mine Hill Twp.
Monmouth Beach Boro
Springfield Twp.
Pohatcong Twp.
Long Beach Twp.
Sea Isle City
Avon-By-The-Sea Boro
Avalon Boro
Island Heights Boro
Estell Manor City
Bass River Twp.
Beach Haven Boro
West Cape May Boro
Deal Boro
Longport Boro
Allenhurst Boro
West Wildwood Boro
Harvey Cedars Boro
Cape May Point Boro
Tavistock Boro
Pine Valley Boro
Cape May
Gloucester
Monmouth
Camden
Morris
Burlington
Burlington
Warren
Cape May
Cape May
Hunterdon
Morris
Monmouth
Burlington
Warren
Ocean
Cape May
Monmouth
Cape May
Ocean
Atlantic
Burlington
Ocean
Cape May
Monmouth
Atlantic
Monmouth
Cape May
Ocean
Cape May
Camden
Camden
5,260
5,001
4,770
4,497
4,307
4,205
4,013
3,945
3,923
3,884
3,880
3,681
3,619
3,504
3,438
3,428
2,957
2,233
2,155
1,835
1,657
1,562
1,310
1,095
1,071
1,054
706
430
373
242
27
22
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:C-M
COMMISSION
OMCL:SM
OMCL:M-C
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM
(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)
Sorted by Form of Municipal Government
Municipality
County
2003
Estimated
Population
Form of
Municipal
Government
East Orange City
Longport Boro
Margate City
Ventnor City
Lyndhurst Twp.
Ridgefield Park Village
Bass River Twp.
Bordentown City
Audubon Boro
Collingswood Boro
Haddon Heights Boro
Haddonfield Boro
Mount Ephraim Boro
Pine Valley Boro
Tavistock Boro
Cape May Point Boro
Sea Isle City
West Cape May Boro
West Wildwood Boro
Wildwood City
Wildwood Crest Boro
Millville City
Nutley Twp.
North Bergen Twp.
Union City
West New York Town
Allenhurst Boro
Avon-By-The-Sea Boro
Deal Boro
Monmouth Beach Boro
Beach Haven Boro
Harvey Cedars Boro
Long Beach Twp.
Brigantine City
Galloway Twp.
Fair Lawn Boro
Ridgewood Village
Teaneck Twp.
Eastampton Twp.
Essex
Atlantic
Atlantic
Atlantic
Bergen
Bergen
Burlington
Burlington
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Camden
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cape May
Cumberland
Essex
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Atlantic
Atlantic
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Burlington
69,212
1,054
8,328
12,778
19,461
12,781
1,562
4,013
9,118
14,220
7,495
11,616
4,497
22
27
242
2,957
1,095
430
5,260
3,884
27,119
28,091
58,445
66,573
46,348
706
2,233
1,071
3,619
1,310
373
3,428
12,631
34,221
31,585
24,831
39,815
6,657
CITY
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
Evesham Twp.
Maple Shade Twp.
Medford Lakes Boro
Moorestown Twp.
Mount Holly Twp.
Mount Laurel Twp.
Springfield Twp.
Willingboro Twp.
Cape May City
Lower Twp.
Belleville Twp.
Cedar Grove Twp.
Livingston Twp.
Montclair Twp.
Verona Twp.
Deptford Twp.
Weehawken Twp.
East Windsor Twp.
Lawrence Twp.
South Brunswick Twp.
Aberdeen Twp.
Howell Twp.
Keansburg Boro
Ocean Twp.
Mountain Lakes Boro
Pequannock Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Roxbury Twp.
Ringwood Boro
Franklin Twp.
Byram Twp.
Newton Town
Sparta Twp.
Vernon Twp.
Scotch Plains Twp.
Washington Boro
Mahwah Twp.
Atlantic City
Rivervale Twp.
Saddle Brook Twp.
Washington Twp.
Burlington City
Burlington Twp.
Delran Twp.
Florence Twp.
Pemberton Twp.
Camden City
Cherry Hill Twp.
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Cape May
Cape May
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Gloucester
Hudson
Mercer
Mercer
Middlesex
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Passaic
Somerset
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex
Union
Warren
Bergen
Atlantic
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Camden
Camden
46,111
19,269
4,205
19,932
10,771
40,523
3,504
33,090
3,923
22,518
35,604
12,266
27,972
38,584
13,402
28,055
13,348
26,694
30,967
40,181
18,723
50,130
10,746
27,693
4,307
14,506
25,575
23,774
12,704
54,977
8,556
8,389
19,220
25,439
22,945
6,829
24,460
40,385
9,729
13,144
9,498
9,809
21,784
16,569
11,247
28,938
80,089
71,081
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:C-M
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Gloucester Twp.
Avalon Boro
Ocean City
Bridgeton City
Vineland City
Irvington Twp.
Newark
Orange Twp.
West Orange Twp.
Monroe Twp.
Washington Twp.
Bayonne City
Hoboken City
Jersey City
Ewing Twp.
Hamilton Twp.
Trenton City
West Windsor Twp.
East Brunswick Twp.
Edison Twp.
Monroe Twp.
New Brunswick City
Old Bridge Twp.
Perth Amboy City
Piscataway Twp.
South Amboy City
Spotswood Boro
Woodbridge Twp.
Long Branch City
Marlboro Twp.
Tinton Falls Boro
Denville Twp.
Jefferson Twp.
Lincoln Park Boro
Mine Hill Twp.
Morristown Town
Mount Olive Twp.
Parsippany-Troy Hills
Twp.
Rockaway Twp.
Berkeley Twp.
Brick Twp.
Dover Twp.
Manchester Twp.
Hawthorne Boro
Little Falls Twp.
Passaic City
Paterson City
Wayne Twp.
Camden
Cape May
Cape May
Cumberland
Cumberland
Essex
Essex
Essex
Essex
Gloucester
Gloucester
Hudson
Hudson
Hudson
Mercer
Mercer
Mercer
Mercer
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
Morris
65,963
2,155
15,558
22,785
57,057
60,057
277,911
32,556
45,069
30,427
50,386
60,905
39,482
239,097
36,535
89,632
85,314
24,094
48,337
100,138
31,494
49,803
63,663
48,447
52,055
8,032
8,236
100,866
31,523
38,859
15,975
15,932
20,586
10,870
3,681
18,816
25,449
51,247
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Morris
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
Passaic
25,039
42,247
78,379
93,671
42,228
18,363
11,947
68,528
150,782
55,262
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
Bridgewater Twp.
North Plainfield Boro
Clark Twp.
Elizabeth City
Hillside Twp.
Rahway City
Phillipsburg Town
North Brunswick Twp.
West Milford Twp.
Estell Manor City
Berlin Twp.
Fairfield Twp.
Greenwich Twp.
Logan Twp.
Clinton Twp.
Lambertville City
Belmar Boro
Bradley Beach Boro
Highlands Boro
Chester Twp.
East Hanover Twp.
Island Heights Boro
Stafford Twp.
West Paterson Boro
Allamuchy Twp.
Lopatcong Twp.
Pohatcong Twp.
Tenafly Boro
Middletown Twp.
Montville Twp.
Plainfield City
Somerset
Somerset
Union
Union
Union
Union
Warren
Middlesex
Passaic
Atlantic
Camden
Essex
Gloucester
Gloucester
Hunterdon
Hunterdon
Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth
Morris
Morris
Ocean
Ocean
Passaic
Warren
Warren
Warren
Bergen
Monmouth
Morris
Union
43,999
21,091
14,707
123,215
21,902
26,779
15,177
38,404
27,926
1,657
5,360
7,442
5,001
6,015
13,768
3,880
5,975
4,770
5,367
7,668
11,449
1,835
24,318
11,255
3,945
7,837
3,438
14,101
66,357
21,205
48,025
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:M-C-A
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
OMCL:SM
SPEC.CHART
SPEC.CHART
SPEC.CHART
SPEC.CHART