Qualifying systems up to 1,200 watts will not need utility preapproval or net metering, while renters must give 14 days’ notice and remain subject to safety and placement rules.
TRENTON, N.J. New Jersey residents will be allowed to use qualifying plug-in solar devices without a utility interconnection agreement or municipal device permit beginning March 1, 2027, under a law signed Sept. 1.
The Garden State Balcony Solar Act applies to moveable photovoltaic equipment with a combined maximum output of 1,200 watts at one service address, or at one dwelling unit in a multifamily building. A system above that limit still requires an interconnection agreement. Qualifying equipment must connect through a standard 120-volt outlet, sit on the customer’s side of the meter, meet the law’s testing standard and include a feature that stops it from sending power into the distribution system during an outage.
The new law exempts a qualifying system from utility preapproval, interconnection fees, extra utility-mandated controls and net-metering requirements. The net-metering exemption also means the law does not create a bill credit for surplus electricity sent to the grid. Its financial value will depend on equipment cost, solar exposure and how much power the household uses while the system is producing. The governor’s announcement said the devices can reduce bills but did not provide an official household-savings estimate.
The law does not erase electrical-safety rules. Devices generally must follow their product listing, the National Electrical Code and the State Uniform Construction Code. A device delivering 400 watts or less to an outlet is exempt only from provisions that would require changes to a building’s premises, wiring or electrical panel. Building modifications and other electrical work remain subject to ordinary permits and inspections.
Tenants who pay for electricity in their leased premises may place a qualifying device inside that space, including on a leased balcony or patio. They must give a landlord, homeowners association, condominium association or similar governing body 14 days’ written notice, document that the device qualifies and identify its proposed location. A landlord or association may set reasonable size and placement restrictions, require indemnification for negligent installation or use, and hold a tenant responsible for resulting damage. It may not impose a blanket prohibition within the area protected by the law.
Municipalities may not ban the devices or require a permit, application, fee or license merely for their placement or use. They may still enforce permits and codes for structural changes, new wiring and other alterations. The entire act takes effect six months after its Sept. 1 enactment, while state regulators may prepare implementation measures in advance.