New Jersey town sued by feds over ordinance banning homes with gas, propane and oil services

DOJ Targets Morris Township Gas Ban, Raising Stakes for NJ Homeowners and Builders Morris Township, NJ — A quiet local ordinance aimed at cutting emissions has turned into a federal showdown that could reshape how New Jersey residents heat their homes, after the U.S. Department of Justice sued Morris Township over its ban on natural gas in new construction. The lawsuit, filed this week in federal court, challenges the township’s decision to block gas, propane, and fuel oil systems in certain new buildings. Federal officials say the rule goes too far—arguing it limits consumer choice and could drive up costs for families building or buying new homes. For now, the fight isn’t theoretical. It’s about what future homeowners in Morris Township will be allowed to install in their kitchens, basements, and utility rooms. From local rule to national flashpoint What started as a climate-focused policy at the municipal level is now part of a broader federal push against local gas bans. The Justice Department argues that towns like Morris Township don’t have the authority to effectively outlaw appliances—like gas stoves and furnaces—that are already regulated at the federal level. In its filing, the government frames the ordinance as an overreach