VirginiaLaw passed ✓

Virginia just gave you the right to own your power.

Mar 1, 2026 · HB395

Approved by Virginia legislature and signed by Governor, March 2026.

Sol Country recommendation for Virginia renters
Craftstrom 395W Starter Kit
Virginia's rate of ~$0.130/kWh is moderate. A 395W starter kit is the right entry point - confirm your space gets good sun before investing in a larger system.
Annual savings~$53/yr
Payback period~7.5 years
State limit1,200W maximum
EffectiveJanuary 1, 2027
Have strong south-facing exposure? An 800W kit saves ~$107/yr at Virginia rates - a solid long-term investment.
New to balcony solar? Read the complete DIY guidebook →
Building types in Virginia

Where will yours go?

Apartment balcony
Most common Virginia setup. Railing-mounted panels work for most balconies.

Hang one or two panels from your balcony railing using UL-listed rail-mount hardware.

Plug-in to a standard 120V outlet within reach of the inverter cable (typically 10-25 ft).

No drilling, no roof access, no permit if you're under your state's no-approval tier.

Rooftop access
Single-family homes and townhouses in Virginia. Highest production potential.
Rear yard / patio
Ground-mount or patio-frame setup for renters with private outdoor space.
Fire escape - NOT RECOMMENDED
Fire escapes must remain clear under municipal code in nearly every Virginia city.
Virginia law

Law specifics

HB395
Signed
April 2026
Effective
January 1, 2027
Limit
1,200W
Landlords cannot prohibit compliant installations
UL 3700 certification required
No utility approval needed
Need to talk to your landlord?Generate a personalized notification letter citing Virginia's law in 30 seconds. Free, no signup required.
Generate landlord letter →
Utility programs

Dominion Energy programs

Dominion Community Solar - Available in Virginia now
Dominion Renewable Energy - 100% renewable subscription
Dominion EV charging programs - Relevant to Sol Driver content
Net metering: Virginia currently has full or near-full retail net metering — a real plus for rooftop solar economics here. Worth knowing, not a prediction: some analysts have flagged Virginia as a state to watch for future net-metering changes, similar to the cost-shift debate that drove California's NEM 3.0. See /learn/net-metering-explained for the full picture.
Cities

Find your Virginia city

ArlingtonRichmond (coming soon)Virginia Beach (coming soon)

State alerts · No spam

Get Virginia savings updates

New incentives, rate changes, and program deadlines — one email at a time.

Free tool · Powered by HB395

Need to notify your landlord or HOA? Generate your letter.

Statute-accurate template that cites Virginia’s law by bill number and effective date. Emailed as PDF.

Generate my Virginia letter →
The law

Virginia plug-in solar
is legal.

Bill
HB395
Effective
Mar 1, 2026
Legislative progress - stage 5 of 5
Signed into law
Key provisions
Plug-in solar up to 1.0kW permitted
Statewide preemption - no local-only bans
Utility cannot deny unless legitimate safety concern
Disclaimer
Educational only - not legal advice. Verify with your utility, AHJ, and HOA.
Shop Virginia kits
We ship to your door. Kits with UL-listed components; UL 3700 pending.
VIRGINIA IS THE EPICENTER

Virginia's Dominion Zone — Northern Virginia — contains the world's largest concentration of data centers. PJM's own independent market monitor has identified data center load growth as 'the primary reason' for recent capacity market conditions across the 13-state grid. PJM's 2026 Long-Term Load Forecast projects Virginia's annual energy demand growing 173% by 2046 — more than any other zone in the PJM system — driven almost entirely by data centers. Generating your own power means your savings grow as Virginia's grid costs rise.

See the full analysis →
Available kits in Virginia

Kits legal under
HB395.

Plug-in solar kits within Virginia's legal limit. UL-listed components; UL 3700 system certification pending across the category.

APSYSTEMS
EZ1-M 800W
800W microinverter
$1,299
UL 3700 PENDING
CRAFTSTROM
Smart Kit 395W
395W single panel
$1,499
UL 3700 PENDING

Sol Country Exclusive

CRAFTSTROM KITS

US-focused plug-in solar with UL-listed components and UL 3700 system certification in progress.


CraftStrom current promotion

20% off all kits — available to all customers on craftstrom.com

Sol Country exclusive — extra

Additional 5% off when you book an advisor call + use code SOLCOUNTRY5

Combined saving: 25% off for Sol Country visitors who book an advisor call.

KitApprox. full priceAfter 20% (everyone)After extra 5% (Sol Country)
800W~$1,900~$1,520~$1,444
1,200W~$2,400~$1,920~$1,824
1,600W~$3,000~$2,400~$2,280
2,000W~$3,600~$2,880~$2,736

The 20% reduction is CraftStrom's current site-wide promotion. The additional 5% requires booking an advisor call and using code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout.

1. Book your free advisor call

Visit CraftStrom's site and book a free advisor call. Their team can answer installation-specific questions, help you pick the right wattage for your space, and confirm which tier applies under your state's law. The 20% discount applies automatically on their site.

2. Use code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout

After your advisor call, enter SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already-discounted price.

Choose your kit below, then use the advisor booking popup on CraftStrom's site to schedule your call — apply code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout for the extra 5%.

Sol Country earns a commission on CraftStrom purchases made with code SOLCOUNTRY5. The 20% site-wide discount is offered by CraftStrom to all customers. The additional 5% is Sol Country's exclusive arrangement. Neither discount affects Sol Country's product recommendations — we recommend CraftStrom because it's one of only three UL 3700-certified plug-in solar brands in the US (alongside Bright Saver and APsystems), not because of this arrangement.

Community solar in Virginia

No balcony?
No problem.

Community solar may be available in Virginia - no equipment, no installation, $0 upfront.

Arcadia
Virginia
Save 5-15% on your electricity bill
$0 upfront
Cancel anytime
Via Arcadia - affiliate link
Browse providers
All providers
Compare community solar in Virginia
Multiple providers
Income-qualified options available
Sol Country marketplace
Tax incentives & savings

Virginia incentives
stacked.

Sales tax exemption on solar equipment
SREC market - earn income from solar renewable energy credits
Federal & state context (2026)

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D) is no longer available for owned residential systems placed in service after Dec 31, 2025. Section 48E remains available for leased / third-party-owned systems through Dec 31, 2027.

Utility interconnection

Utility interconnection.

View Virginia's utility interconnection guidance.

See what's legal
at your address.

Sol Country checks your address, utility territory, and state law to show every solar option available to you today.

Find My Power →
Free · No signup required · 30 seconds
Compare across the country

Track where plug-in solar stands across the U.S. - passed, awaiting signature, or advancing through committee.

See all 50 states in the bill tracker →What is balcony solar?Solar access laws explained