New Jersey
⏳ Enacted — effective Mar 1, 2027Plug-In Solar Legal Guide
Governor Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act (S2368/A4836) on September 1, 2026, after it passed both chambers unanimously (Senate 40-0, Assembly 79-0) on June 30, 2026 — making New Jersey the 10th state to enact a plug-in solar law. The act lets residents install and use portable solar generation devices up to 1,200W without a municipal permit, utility approval, or interconnection agreement, and bars utilities from charging fees or requiring equipment beyond what's already built into the device. Landlords, HOAs, condo associations, co-ops, and municipalities cannot prohibit qualifying devices outright, though HOAs and condo associations may set reasonable restrictions on size, placement, and manner of installation, and users must give at least 14 days' written notice with the device's safety documentation before installing. The consumer-facing provisions take effect March 1, 2027. This is separate from New Jersey's existing Solar Rights Act (N.J.S.A. 45:22A-48.2) and PSE&G/JCP&L's 1:1 retail net metering, which continue to govern traditional rooftop systems — small plug-in devices under the new law are excluded from net metering and the standard interconnection review process.
New to plug-in solar?
Plug-in solar lets anyone generate free electricity — no roof, no permit, no contractor. A single panel on your balcony can meaningfully cut your bill, especially as rates keep rising.
Payback Calculator
Pre-filled with New Jersey's average rate ($0.180/kWh) and 4.7 daily peak sun hours. Adjust sliders to match your situation.
Best-fit kits for New Jersey
sorted by your payback periodUS Solar Supplier 810W Balcony Kit
Complete kit: Runergy panels, APsystems EZ1, SunModo awning racking. Under all 1,200W+ caps.
PluggedSolar 800W Plug-In Kit
Four 200W panels + UL 1741 microinverter + WiFi monitor. Sold on Amazon.
CraftStrom 400W Eco Line Plug-In Kit
400W Eco Line bifacial panel + ETL/UL 1741 microinverter. Fits Maine's 600W cap and now Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey's 1,200W caps.
Payback estimates use your current slider settings with each product's wattage and price. We earn an affiliate commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
Year-by-year table
| Year | kWh Used | Rate | Savings | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 700 | $0.180 | $126 | $126 |
| 2 | 696 | $0.191 | $133 | $259 |
| 3 | 693 | $0.202 | $140 | $399 |
| 4 | 689 | $0.214 | $148 | $547 |
| 5 | 686 | $0.227 | $156 | $703 |
| 6 | 683 | $0.241 | $164 | $867 |
| 7 | 679 | $0.255 | $173 | $1,041 |
| 8Paid off | 676 | $0.271 | $183 | $1,223 |
| 9 | 672 | $0.287 | $193 | $1,416 |
| 10 | 669 | $0.304 | $203 | $1,620 |
| 11 | 666 | $0.322 | $215 | $1,834 |
| 12 | 662 | $0.342 | $226 | $2,061 |
| 13 | 659 | $0.362 | $239 | $2,299 |
| 14 | 656 | $0.384 | $252 | $2,551 |
| 15 | 652 | $0.407 | $266 | $2,817 |
| 16 | 649 | $0.431 | $280 | $3,097 |
| 17 | 646 | $0.457 | $295 | $3,392 |
| 18 | 643 | $0.485 | $312 | $3,704 |
| 19 | 640 | $0.514 | $329 | $4,032 |
| 20 | 636 | $0.545 | $347 | $4,379 |
| 21 | 633 | $0.577 | $366 | $4,744 |
| 22 | 630 | $0.612 | $386 | $5,130 |
| 23 | 627 | $0.649 | $407 | $5,537 |
| 24 | 624 | $0.688 | $429 | $5,965 |
| 25 | 621 | $0.729 | $452 | $6,418 |
Law Summary
Last verified September 2, 2026·Office of the Governor — Bill Signing Announcement
Verify with your state utility commission before installing. FAQ →
Electricity Cost Trend
↑ 6.0%/yr avg — ModerateHOA & Landlord Rules
The #1 real-world blocker for renters & condo ownersThe Garden State Balcony Solar Act bars landlords, HOAs, condominium associations, cooperative housing corporations, entities governing planned real estate developments, and municipalities from broadly prohibiting portable solar devices up to 1,200W. HOAs and condo associations may still set reasonable restrictions on the size, placement, or manner of placement of a device. This closes the gap left by the older Solar Rights Act (N.J.S.A. 45:22A-48.2), whose HOA protections were written around rooftop systems on detached single-family homes and didn't clearly cover balcony/plug-in devices in condos or apartments.
No landlord may prohibit a tenant from utilizing a portable solar generation device or placing one on the exterior of the tenant's leased premises. Tenants must give the landlord at least 14 days' written notice, along with the device's safety documentation, before installing.
Utility: PSE&G
PSE&G and JCP&L continue to offer 1:1 net metering at full retail rate for standard interconnected solar systems under the existing Level 1-3 process. The Garden State Balcony Solar Act creates a separate track for small plug-in devices up to 1,200W: they're exempt from interconnection agreements and net metering enrollment entirely, and utilities cannot charge fees or require equipment beyond what's already integrated into a UL-listed device.