NJ Development Law Update: NJ Legislates New Warehouse Construction be “Solar Ready”

In a continuing effort to support the widespread installation of solar generating systems on commercial rooftops, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill (A-3352/S-3504) requiring that newly constructed warehouses be designed as “solar-ready buildings.” The bill, which was signed into law on November 8, 2021, applies to warehouses for which an application for a construction permit has not been declared complete by the enforcing entity by July 1, 2022.

  • Any warehouse declared complete after July 1, 2022 must be deemed solar-ready.
  • Solar-ready warehouse are defined as any building, room, structure, or facility of at least 100,000 SF used primarily for the storage of goods intended for sale located in a solar-ready zone.
  • Solar-ready zones are 40% of the roof area, neglecting area covered by skylights, occupied roof decks, vegetative roof areas, and mandatory access or set back areas, must be free from obstructions.
    • i.e. pipes, vents, ducts, HVAC equipment
  • Due to the increasing warehouse industry, New Jersey’s goal is to generate 34% of its total electricity consumption by 2050 with this new bill.

Please contact our team to learn more about how this may impact your development project.