New Jersey legalizes plug-in solar up to 1,200 W

New Jersey has a new law making it legal to plug in small solar panel setups at home without a permit or utility approval. Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act, which covers "plug-in solar" devices—portable panels, often mounted on a balcony or railing, that connect directly into a regular outlet. Systems up to 1,200 watts are allowed. Devices up to 400 watts are exempt from extra requirements; anything above that must meet National Electrical Code standards, the state's construction code, and a safety certification called UL 3700, designed specifically for this kind of plug-in solar equipment.

The law also stops landlords and homeowners associations from banning these devices outright. Renters and homeowners under an HOA can still face "reasonable restrictions" on size or placement, but a blanket prohibition is no longer allowed. That protection is notable because a similar plug-in solar bill moving through California does not include the same renter and HOA safeguards.

The law takes effect March 1, 2027, giving the state's Board of Public Utilities time to set up the rules for putting it into practice. New Jersey is now the ninth state to pass this kind of plug-in solar law, joining a growing list that includes New York and California, both of which have passed similar bills still awaiting their governors' signatures. For homeowners or renters in New Jersey, this means a low-cost way to generate some of your own power—especially in apartments or condos where a full rooftop solar install isn't an option—should become easier and cheaper to set up once the law takes effect.