Balcony Solar Legislation Tracker

Signed April 2026

Effective January 1, 2027

395W no-permit; up to 1,920W with licensed electrician

First US state to pass explicit plug-in balcony solar legislation.

See the full Colorado balcony solar guide →

Signed Jun 4, 2026

Effective Oct 1, 2026 (portable devices) · Jul 1, 2026 (RRES successor)

1,200W

Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 5340 (Public Act 26-127) into law on June 4, 2026. The bill's portable-solar device provisions (Section 9) take effect October 1, 2026, making plug-in balcony solar up to 1,200W legal statewide without utility approval. The broader RRES successor program proceeding begins July 1, 2026. At $0.286/kWh, Connecticut has the second-highest electricity rate in the continental US - an 800W system saves ~$195/year, payback under 4 years.

See the full Connecticut balcony solar guide →

Effective now

LD 1730 signed April 6, 2026 by Governor Janet Mills. Takes effect ~July 15, 2026 (90 days after legislature adjourns).

See the full Maine balcony solar guide →

Signed May 12, 2026

Effective now

1,200W

Governor Wes Moore signed HB 1532 (Utility RELIEF Act) on May 12, 2026 with an emergency clause - plug-in solar is legal in Maryland today. Maryland is the 5th state to legalize plug-in solar.

See the full Maryland balcony solar guide →

Signed Jul 3, 2026

1,200W

Governor Kelly Ayotte signed SB 540 into law on July 3, 2026 - making New Hampshire the 8th state to legalize plug-in balcony solar. Systems up to 1,200W are legal statewide.

See the full New Hampshire balcony solar guide →

Effective now

Second state to pass plug-in solar law; effective spring 2025.

See the full Utah balcony solar guide →

Signed Jun 16, 2026

Effective now

1,200W

Governor Phil Scott signed S.202 into law on June 16, 2026 - making Vermont the 7th state to legalize plug-in balcony solar. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. At ~$0.210/kWh, an 800W system saves ~$182/year, payback under 4 years.

See the full Vermont balcony solar guide →

Effective Jul 1, 2026 (partial) · Jan 1, 2027 (renter protections)

Signed March 2026. HB395 takes effect in two stages: certain provisions took effect July 1, 2026, and the consumer-facing provisions - including the renter protections and the prohibition on landlords saying no - take effect January 1, 2027.

See the full Virginia balcony solar guide →

Effective Jan 1, 2027

Senate concurrence pending · Newsom deadline: September 30, 2026 · Effective if signed: January 1, 2027 · Sunset: January 1, 2030

1,200W AC output

The California Assembly passed SB 868 — the Plug and Play Solar Act — on August 25, 2026, after the Senate passed it 35-1 on May 20, 2026. Senate concurrence on the Assembly amendments is the final legislative step before the bill reaches Governor Newsom, who has until September 30, 2026 to sign or veto. If signed, California becomes the 9th signed state and the law takes effect January 1, 2027. Not law yet — a veto is possible.

See the full California balcony solar guide →

1,200W

Both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature have passed balcony solar legislation — the House 128-27, and the Senate on July 1, 2026 as part of the 2026 energy bill. It now awaits Governor Healey's signature. Massachusetts residential electricity runs roughly $0.25-$0.28/kWh, the third highest in the country after Connecticut and California, so the savings math here is unusually strong. If signed, an 800W kit would save around $100/year.

See the full Massachusetts balcony solar guide →

1,200W

New Jersey's legislature passed the Garden State Solar Act (S2368/A4836) — also referred to as the Garden State Plug-In Solar Act or Garden State Balcony Solar Act depending on the source — unanimously on July 1, 2026. The bill now awaits Governor Murphy's signature and takes effect 6 months after signing. If signed, NJ renters gain the legal right to install plug-in solar up to 1,200W — no landlord permission needed, no utility interconnection agreement required. At New Jersey's ~$0.165/kWh average residential rate, an 800W kit saves ~$100/year (IF signed).

See the full New Jersey balcony solar guide →

Effective 90 days after signature

1,200W AC output

The New York State Legislature passed the Solar Up Now NY (SUNNY) Act on June 1, 2026 with bipartisan support. The bill now awaits Governor Hochul's signature. If signed, New York's 19 million renter households gain the legal right to install balcony solar. At ConEd's ~$0.21/kWh NYC rate, an 800W system saves ~$145/year, payback under 6 years.

See the full New York balcony solar guide →

Hawaii has two separate plug-in solar bills advancing simultaneously. SB2940 covers apartments, rentals and small businesses up to 1,200W aggregate per meter. SB2902 covers condominium owners under Chapter 514B. Both are genuinely early stage - neither has passed a full chamber yet.

See the full Hawaii balcony solar guide →

Bill sponsored by Sen. Rachel Ventura advancing in 2026. Would remove interconnection agreement requirement currently blocking plug-in solar.

See the full Illinois balcony solar guide →

Minnesota has active plug-in solar legislation advancing. At $0.135/kWh an 800W system would save ~$92/year.

See the full Minnesota balcony solar guide →

OHIO H.B. 303 — Community Energy Program advancing in the Ohio legislature. Would allow residents to subscribe to local clean energy projects and receive bill credits — similar to community solar. Not yet passed. Sol Country monitoring.

See the full Ohio balcony solar guide →

Arizona was previously listed as advancing but was reported as stalled in the 2026 session. Verify the current status against azleg.gov before confirming as failed versus still advancing.

See the full Arizona balcony solar guide →

Georgia considered a plug-in solar bill in 2026 but it did not pass. Georgia has some of the most favorable solar conditions in the US, so watch for renewed effort in 2027.

See the full Georgia balcony solar guide →

Idaho had a plug-in solar bill filed in 2026 that did not pass. Watch for a reintroduced bill in 2027.

See the full Idaho balcony solar guide →

Indiana had a plug-in solar bill filed in 2026 that did not advance. Watch for renewed effort in 2027.

See the full Indiana balcony solar guide →

Missouri had a plug-in solar bill filed in 2026 that did not pass. Watch for a reintroduced bill in 2027.

See the full Missouri balcony solar guide →

Oregon's plug-in solar legislation stalled in the 2026 session. Watch for a reintroduced bill in the 2027 session.

See the full Oregon balcony solar guide →

Pennsylvania had active plug-in solar legislation in 2026 that did not advance to passage. Sponsors are expected to return in the 2027 session.

See the full Pennsylvania balcony solar guide →

Washington's plug-in solar exemption was explicitly stripped from a broader energy bill before that bill passed. The plug-in solar provision did not pass in 2026. Sponsors plan to reintroduce the bill in the 2027 session.

See the full Washington balcony solar guide →

Wyoming had a plug-in solar bill filed in 2026 that did not pass. Watch for a reintroduced bill in 2027.

See the full Wyoming balcony solar guide →