How many watts can I plug in in New Jersey?

Up to 1,200 watts of combined output.

Can my New Jersey landlord stop me?

Not with a full ban if you pay your unit's electric bill. You must give at least 14 days' written notice, say where the system will go and show it complies.

Can my HOA or condo board ban balcony solar?

No blanket bans, but they can set reasonable rules on size, location and placement.

Do I need a permit from my town?

No. Towns can't require a permit, license, fee or other approval to use a qualifying plug-in system.

Will my utility pay me for extra power?

No. Plug-in systems are exempt from net metering, so power sent to the grid earns no credits.

Is Balcony Solar Legal in New Jersey?

Yes. Governor Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act (S 2368 / A 4836) on September 1, 2026. It allows plug-in balcony solar up to 1,200 watts with no utility interconnection agreement, approval or extra fees, and stops landlords, HOAs and towns from banning it. Most reporting says it takes effect March 1, 2027.

New Jersey balcony solar at a glance

Status	✅ Signed (not in effect yet)
Bill	S 2368 / A 4836, Sen. John McKeon and Sen. Bob Smith (primary sponsors)
Signed	September 1, 2026
Effective	March 1, 2027
Size limit	1,200 W combined output
Utility interconnection agreement	Not required
Utility fees	Not allowed
Certification	UL 3700 or a comparable standard recognized by a national testing lab
Renter / HOA rules	Landlords can't fully ban it if the tenant pays the unit's electric bill (14 days' written notice required); HOAs and condos can't ban it but can set reasonable size, location and placement rules
Last checked	October 28, 2026

What Garden State Balcony Solar Act actually does

Allows plug-in devices with a combined output of up to 1,200 W.
No interconnection agreement, no advance utility approval and no extra utility fees or equipment demands.
Certified hardware: UL 3700 or a comparable standard recognized by a national testing lab, according to Electrek's reading of the law. The system must stop exporting power during an outage.
Systems of 400 W or less are exempt from code provisions that would require changes to the building, wiring or electrical panel.
Renters: a landlord can't fully ban a system if you pay your unit's electric bill. You must give at least 14 days' written notice, say where it will go and show it complies.
HOAs and condos can't impose blanket bans, but they can set reasonable rules on size, location and placement.
Towns can't ban plug-in solar or require a permit, license, fee or other approval to use it.
No net metering credits for power sent to the grid.
On timing, reports differ: Electrek and others say the law takes effect March 1, 2027, while NJBIZ reported it took effect on signing. Check with your utility before you plug in.

Can I use balcony solar before March 1, 2027?

Not as a grid-connected plug-in system with the new law's protections. Until then your utility's normal interconnection rules still apply. What you can do now:

Pick a kit that's UL-certified so it qualifies on day one.
Measure your balcony or railing and check how many hours of direct sun it gets.
Use a panel with a portable power station (battery only, not plugged into your wiring). That setup never connects to the grid, so interconnection rules don't apply.

Renters, landlords and HOAs in New Jersey

Landlords can't fully ban it if the tenant pays the unit's electric bill (14 days' written notice required); HOAs and condos can't ban it but can set reasonable size, location and placement rules. Even so:

Read your lease and HOA rules for anything about balcony attachments or electrical devices.
Ask in writing before mounting anything to a railing.
Prefer clamp-on or freestanding mounts that don't drill into the building.

How much can balcony solar save in New Jersey?

Find your price per kWh on your PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric or other utility bill.
Check the kit's estimated yearly output for your location and the way your balcony faces (south is best, then east or west).
Multiply: yearly kWh × your price per kWh = rough yearly savings. Or use the balcony solar calculator.

Shade, railing angle and how much of the power you use while it's being made all change the result. Plug-in systems are meant to offset what your home uses, not to sell power back.

Timeline

January 13, 2026: S 2368 introduced in the Senate.
March 23, 2026: Senate passes it 38–0.
June 30, 2026: Assembly passes it 79–0, and the Senate agrees to the Assembly's changes 40–0.
September 1, 2026: Governor Sherrill signs it as P.L.2026, c.82.
March 1, 2027: Takes effect, according to most reporting.

FAQ

Is balcony solar legal in New Jersey?: Yes. The Garden State Balcony Solar Act was signed on September 1, 2026. Most reporting says it takes effect March 1, 2027.
How many watts can I plug in in New Jersey?: Up to 1,200 watts of combined output.
Can my New Jersey landlord stop me?: Not with a full ban if you pay your unit's electric bill. You must give at least 14 days' written notice, say where the system will go and show it complies.
Can my HOA or condo board ban balcony solar?: No blanket bans, but they can set reasonable rules on size, location and placement.
Do I need a permit from my town?: No. Towns can't require a permit, license, fee or other approval to use a qualifying plug-in system.
Will my utility pay me for extra power?: No. Plug-in systems are exempt from net metering, so power sent to the grid earns no credits.

Sources

This page explains the law in plain language. It is not legal advice. Last checked October 28, 2026.