Balcony Solar Legislation Tracker

Signed September 30, 2026

Effective January 1, 2027

Signed September 30, 2026 · Effective January 1, 2027 · Interconnection exemption sunsets January 1, 2030

1,200W

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 868 — the Plug and Play Solar Act — on September 30, 2026. California is the 10th state to sign a balcony solar law. The law covers systems up to 1,200W, removes utility interconnection approval, and takes effect January 1, 2027.

See the full California balcony solar guide →

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 →

Signed September 1, 2026

Effective March 1, 2027

Signed September 1, 2026 · Effective March 1, 2027

1,200W

Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act (S2368/A4836), officially P.L.2026, c.82, on September 1, 2026. New Jersey is the 9th state to sign a balcony solar law. It takes effect March 1, 2027 and allows systems up to 1,200W with no utility notification, registration, approval, or fees.

See the full New Jersey 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 90 days after signature

The SUNNY Act passed both chambers on May 28, 2026 and is waiting on Governor Kathy Hochul's signature. It would let renters and homeowners anywhere in New York plug small solar panels into a regular outlet, no utility permission or interconnection agreement needed. New York would be the biggest state by population to legalize plug-in solar after California, opening it up to millions of renters in NYC and across the state who have no way to go solar today. Nothing to do yet: sign up for alerts and we'll tell you the moment Hochul signs.

See the full New York balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in Washington DC legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full District of Columbia balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in Delaware legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full Delaware 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 →

Both chambers passed different versions of the plug-in solar bill (H 5175 / S 3143). A conference committee is now reconciling the two versions. A final bill is expected to go to the governor once the committee agrees on unified language.

See the full Massachusetts balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in Michigan legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full Michigan 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 →

Bill advancing in Missouri legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full Missouri balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in North Carolina legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full North Carolina balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in Ohio legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full Ohio balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in Pennsylvania legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full Pennsylvania balcony solar guide →

Bill advancing in South Carolina legislature. Sol Country is monitoring. Not yet passed.

See the full South Carolina 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 →

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 →

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 →