If you are pricing commercial light fixtures for a New Jersey job, three things shape the order before you pick a single part number: the code edition the inspector will check against, the utility that bills the meter, and how the fixtures will actually get to the site. New Jersey updated its construction codes in August 2026, its utility lighting programs are run by the utilities rather than the state for existing buildings, and a drop ship order needs a delivery plan for the address on the permit. Here is how to sort all three out, and which fixtures fit the jobs New Jersey contractors quote most.
Which codes apply in New Jersey right now
New Jersey adopts its codes through the Uniform Construction Code, and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) publishes the current editions on its Current Construction Codes page. As listed there, with an adoption date of August 17, 2026:
| Subcode | Edition DCA lists | What it means for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical subcode | National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), 2023 edition | Wiring, boxes, disconnects and installation rules for the fixtures you hang |
| Energy subcode, commercial | ASHRAE Standard 90.1, 2022 edition (commercial and all other residential) | Lighting power limits and required lighting controls |
| Energy subcode, low rise residential | International Energy Conservation Code, 2024 edition | Applies to low rise residential, not commercial spaces |
For commercial buildings, New Jersey points energy compliance to ASHRAE 90.1 rather than the commercial chapter of the IECC. The state energy subcode rule, N.J.A.C. 5:23, section 3.18, deletes the IECC commercial lighting section and directs compliance through ASHRAE 90.1. The U.S. Department of Energy state code status page also confirms that COMcheck can be used in New Jersey.
Check the permit date. Which edition applies to your job depends on when the permit application was filed and any grace period DCA allows. Confirm with the local construction official before you lock in a fixture schedule designed to an older edition.
What ASHRAE 90.1 means for your fixture schedule
Section 9 of ASHRAE 90.1 covers lighting. It sets lighting power allowances, so the connected watts per square foot have to come in under the limit for the building or space type, and it sets mandatory controls, such as automatic shutoff and occupancy based controls in many spaces. The exact requirements depend on the space type and the scope of work, so the designer or code official has the final word. For the fixture order, it usually comes down to three practical checks:
- Know the connected wattage. Selectable wattage fixtures let you set a lower wattage at install. Use the setting you will actually ship, not the maximum, and keep the spec sheet that shows it. See selectable wattage and CCT explained.
- Plan the controls with the fixtures. Fixtures with an integrated occupancy sensor or a sensor ready base can cover a control requirement without a separate device on every fixture. Browse LED fixtures with occupancy sensors.
- Match the dimming. Most commercial fixtures dim on 0 to 10V, which is not the same as a triac wall dimmer. See 0 to 10V dimming explained.
For a warehouse or gym bid, a high bay with a factory installed sensor saves a separate control on every fixture. Browse LED fixtures with occupancy sensors and read the spec sheet on each product page for the sensor type and settings.
Who runs lighting incentives in New Jersey
Under the state Clean Energy Act of 2018, New Jersey moved energy efficiency programs for existing buildings from New Jersey's Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) to the investor owned gas and electric utilities. NJCEP's page on utility run programs for businesses says the utilities now offer energy efficiency programs directly to their customers. New construction stays with NJCEP, whose new construction page lists the SmartStart Buildings Program and the Customer Tailored Energy Efficiency Program.
| Project | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Existing commercial or industrial building | The electric utility on the bill: Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power and Light, PSE&G or Rockland Electric. NJCEP's utility contacts page helps you find your utility's program contacts. |
| New construction or major gut renovation | NJCEP programs, per NJCEP's new construction page. |
| Local government buildings | Ask NJCEP about its Local Government Energy Audit. |
Programs vary by utility and change during the year, so check with your utility or the official program before you price a job around an incentive. Two requirements from the official guides are worth knowing up front. PSE&G's commercial and industrial incentive guide says lighting must carry a UL or ETL label and that installed fixtures must be listed under the matching DesignLights Consortium (DLC) category to qualify. The JCP&L commercial and industrial incentives guide asks applicants to review projects against the NJCEP public project tracker and sets a deadline for prescriptive projects that did not get pre approval. Read the current guide for your utility before the old fixtures come down.
Check the UL or ETL listing and any DLC listing on each fixture's spec sheet before you order, and keep a copy for your paperwork. Ask us if a spec sheet is not on the product page. If DLC is new to you, read DLC listed LED lighting explained, and see our utility rebate overview for what to keep from the job.
Confirm the DLC listing before you order. Not every fixture variant is listed. Check that the exact model, including the wattage and options you are buying, is on the DLC list on the date you install.
Fixtures for common New Jersey jobs
The jobs are the same ones contractors bid everywhere, and in New Jersey that usually means warehouses and distribution space, strip retail, offices, schools, garages and parking lots. Here is where to start for each one.
| Job | Fixtures to look at | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse or distribution | LED high bays, linear high bays for racking aisles | How many high bays you need |
| Office, school or medical | Panels and center baskets, troffer retrofit kits | Retrofit kits vs new panels |
| Stairwells and corridors | LED stairwell lights, wraparounds | Occupancy sensor types |
| Building exterior | Wall packs, flood lights | How to choose a wall pack |
| Parking lots | Parking lot and shoebox area lights | Distribution types and pole spacing |
| Parking garages | Parking garage LED lights | Parking garage lighting guide |
| Egress and life safety | Exit signs and emergency lights, fixtures with battery backup | What inspectors look for |
Replacing old metal halide or fluorescent? Start with metal halide to LED wattage equivalents or replacing 4ft fluorescent tubes. Not sure on voltage for a 277V building? See 120 to 277V vs 277 to 480V fixtures.
Getting fixtures to a New Jersey job site
Light It Up Online is an online store, not a local counter. We ship to all 50 states, including New Jersey, and fixtures ship direct from the manufacturer's warehouse to your address. Here is how it works, as described on our ordering and freight page:
- Freight is quoted to your address. Submit the order for a freight quote with the delivery address. No card is taken, and nothing is charged until you approve the total.
- Parcel or LTL. Smaller orders go by parcel and larger orders by LTL freight.
- Job site delivery. Job site delivery, liftgate and limited access delivery are available and are priced into the quote, not added afterward.
- Mixed brands, no minimum. Mix TCP, JEE Lighting, Gielight and EDIPAI on the same order.
- Tax exempt jobs. Send your resale or exemption certificate before the order is finalized.
Tell us about the site when you request the quote. Dense city addresses, sites without a loading dock and jobs that need a liftgate all change how the freight is booked, and it is easier to plan that up front than on delivery day.
Before you order
- Confirm the code edition that applies to the permit with the local construction official.
- Identify the electric utility on the bill and read its current business program guide.
- Check the DLC listing for the exact model and options if you plan to apply for an incentive.
- Set wattage and CCT on selectable fixtures and record the settings for the paperwork.
- Plan controls with the fixtures: integrated sensors, sensor bases or 0 to 10V dimming.
- Plan delivery: dock or no dock, liftgate, access hours and who receives.
Need help reading the numbers? See how to read an LED spec sheet.
Common questions
Which energy code applies to commercial lighting in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs lists ASHRAE Standard 90.1, 2022 edition, as the energy subcode for commercial buildings, with an adoption date of August 17, 2026. Confirm which edition applies to your permit with the local construction official.
Which electrical code does New Jersey use?
DCA lists the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), 2023 edition, as the electrical subcode, with an adoption date of August 17, 2026.
Who runs commercial lighting incentives in New Jersey?
For existing commercial and industrial buildings, the investor owned utilities run the energy efficiency programs: Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power and Light, PSE&G and Rockland Electric. NJCEP keeps programs such as new construction and gut renovation. Programs vary, so check with your utility or the official program.
Does Light It Up Online ship to New Jersey job sites?
Yes. We ship to all 50 states. Fixtures ship direct from the manufacturer's warehouse, by parcel or LTL freight, and job site delivery, liftgate and limited access delivery can be priced into the freight quote.
Do I pay before I see the freight cost?
No. You submit the order for a freight quote with the delivery address, and nothing is charged until you approve the final total.
Shop all commercial LED fixtures or send your fixture list for a job quote. Questions? Contact us or call (845) 681 2684.
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