A 4836 — "Garden State Balcony Solar Act"; exempts portable solar generation devices from certain requirements, and requires certain entities to allow use and installation of portable solar generation devices.*

A4836 1R2R [First[Second Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblyman Singh, Assemblywoman Brennan, Assemblyman Bhalla, Assemblywoman Bagolie, AssemblymanAssemblymen OnyemaOnyema, Freiman, Macurdy and FreimanAssemblywoman Drulis         SYNOPSIS       “Garden State Balcony Solar Act”;

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly StateBudget and Local Government Committee on June 23,28, 2026, with amendments.

     b.  The Department of Community Affairs shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), a portable solar generation device addendum to, or amendments to revise, the electrical subcode or other appropriate model code adopted pursuant to the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), for the purpose of establishing adequate and appropriate standards to provide guidance concerning wiring or modification of homes to accommodate the use of commercially available portable solar generation devices.  The guidance shall include standards for the use, in New Jersey, of portable solar generation devices designed for use in the United States, and standards for the modification or adaptation of home electrical systems for the use, in New Jersey, of portable solar generation devices that were designed for use in countries other than the United States.]1        1[3.  Section 1 of this act shall take effect six months after the date of enactment, except that the board may take any anticipatory action in advance of the effective date as is necessary for the implementation of this act.  Section 2 of this act shall take effect immediately.]1             13.  a.  As used in this section, “portable solar generation device” means the same as the term is defined in section 2 of P.L.    , c.    (C.          ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

          b.  No landlord shall prohibit a tenant 2who is responsible for payment of the electric service used within the tenant’s leased premises2 from utilizing a portable solar generation device or placing a portable solar generation device on2[on the exterior ofof] within2 the tenant’s leased premises. premises2, including any leased balcony or patio2.  A landlord may establish reasonable restrictions concerning the physical dimension, placement, or manner of placement of a portable solar generation device on2[on the leased premises of the tenant’s accessible exterior, including but not limited to the balcony, patio, and exterior wall surfaces. surfaces]2.  A landlord may prohibit or restrict the placement of a portable solar generation device elsewhere on the landlord’s premises, so2[so long as the prohibitionsprohibitions]2 and 2may impose any2 restrictions do2[do not causecause] necessary to ensure that2 the portable solar generation device to2[to be in violation of anyany] complies with all applicable2 product listing provision,2[provision] provisions2, any provision2[provision] provisions2 of the State Uniform Construction Code adopted pursuant to the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), or any National Electrical Code provision.2[provision] provisions pursuant to subsection e.

      c.  A tenant shall provide written notice to the landlord of the tenant’s intent to use a portable solar generation device, which includes documentation that the device meets the requirements set forth in section 2 of P.L.    ,P.L.    c.   , (C.          )c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill),bill)2. and which identifies the proposed location of the portable solar generation device, at least seven days prior to placement or use.  The landlord may respond to the tenant’s notice with any reasonable restrictions concerning the physical dimensions, placement, or manner of placement of the device.

          d. c.  A tenant shall beprovide responsiblewritten fornotice anyto damagesthe sustainedlandlord2, tohomeowners’ aassociation, premisescondominium leasedassociation, bycooperative thehousing tenantcorporation, asother entity governing a resultplanned ofreal aestate portabledevelopment, solaras generationdefined devicein usedsection 3 of P.L.1977, c.419 (C.45:22A-23), or placedcondominium, pursuantas todefined thisin section. section A3 landlordof shallP.L.1969, notc.257 be(C.46:8B-3),2 heldof liablethe fortenant’s failingintent to maintainuse a habitableportable dwellingsolar orgeneration providedevice, anwhich essentialincludes servicedocumentation basedthat onthe adevice conditionmeets the requirements set forth in section 2 of P.L.    , c.    (C.          ) (pending before the leasedLegislature premisesas causedthis solelybill), byand awhich identifies the proposed location of the portable solar generation devicedevice, useat least 2[seven] 142 days prior to placement or placeduse.  onThe thelandlord premisesmay pursuantrespond to thisthe section.tenant’s notice with any reasonable restrictions concerning the physical dimensions, placement, or manner of placement of the device.

          e. d.  A homeowners’tenant association,shall condominiumbe association,responsible cooperativefor housingany corporation,damages othersustained entityto governing a plannedpremises realleased estateby development,the astenant defined in section 3 of P.L.1977, c.419 (C.45:22A-23), or condominium, as defineda inresult section 3 of P.L.1969, c.257 (C.46:8B-3), shall not enforce any provision of a master deed, declaration, bylaw, rule, regulation, or other governing document that prohibits a unit owner or tenant from utilizing a portable solar generation device used or placingplaced apursuant portableto solarthis generationsection.  device on the exterior of the unit owner’s or tenant’s premises.  A homeowners’landlord association,shall condominiumnot association,be cooperativeheld housingliable corporation,for otherfailing entityto governingmaintain a plannedhabitable realdwelling estate development, or condominiumprovide mayan establishessential reasonableservice restrictionsbased concerningon thea size,condition placement,in orthe mannerleased ofpremises placementcaused ofsolely by a portable solar generation device onuse the exterior of a unit owner’s or tenant’splaced premises. on Anythe provisionpremises ofpursuant ato master deed, declaration, bylaw, rule, regulation, or other governing document inconsistent with this subsectionsection. shall be void and unenforceable.

          f. e.  A landlord, homeowners’ association, condominium association, cooperative housing corporation, other entity governing a planned real estate development, oras condominiumdefined mayin requiresection a3 tenant,of unitP.L.1977, owner,c.419 (C.45:22A-23), or occupantcondominium, toas indemnifydefined thein landlord,section homeowners’3 association,of condominiumP.L.1969, association,c.257 cooperative(C.46:8B-3), housingshall corporation,not otherenforce entityany governingprovision of a plannedmaster realdeed, estatedeclaration, development,bylaw, orrule, condominiumregulation, foror claims,other damages,governing losses,document orthat liabilitiesprohibits arisinga fromunit personalowner injury or propertytenant damagefrom causedutilizing bya theportable negligentsolar installation,generation maintenance,device or useplacing of a portable solar generation device byon the tenant,exterior unitof owner,the occupant,unit owner’s or thetenant’s tenant’s,premises.  unitA owner’s,homeowners’ orassociation, occupant’scondominium contractorassociation, cooperative housing corporation, other entity governing a planned real estate development, or agent.1condominium  may      establish 14. reasonable a. restrictions Asconcerning usedthe insize, thisplacement, section,or “portablemanner of placement of a portable solar generation device”device meanson the sameexterior asof thea termunit isowner’s definedor intenant’s sectionpremises.  2Any provision of P.L.    , c.    (C.          ) (pendinga beforemaster thedeed, Legislaturedeclaration, asbylaw, rule, regulation, or other governing document inconsistent with this bill).subsection shall be void and unenforceable.

     f.  A landlord, homeowners’ association, condominium association, cooperative housing corporation, other entity governing a planned real estate development, or condominium may require a tenant, unit owner, or occupant to indemnify the landlord, homeowners’ association, condominium association, cooperative housing corporation, other entity governing a planned real estate development, or condominium for claims, damages, losses, or liabilities arising from personal injury or property damage caused by the negligent installation, maintenance, or use of a portable solar generation device by the tenant, unit owner, occupant, or the tenant’s, unit owner’s, or occupant’s contractor or agent.1         14.  a.  As used in this section, “portable solar generation device” means the same as the term is defined in section 2 of P.L.    , c.    (C.          ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

      c.  No municipality shall require a permit, application, fee, license, or other approval for the placement or use of a portable solar generation device.  The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to exempt any building modification, electrical work, or other alteration from the applicable provisions of the National Electrical Code, the State Uniform Construction Code adopted pursuant to the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), or any municipal permit or inspection requirements.1        15.  This act shall take effect six months after the date of enactment, except that the board may take any anticipatory action in advance of the effective date as is necessary for the implementation of this act.1