As of 2026, five US states have enacted plug-in solar laws: Utah (March 2025), Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Maine (all 2026). In these states, renters can install a plug-in solar system without landlord permission — no permits, no utility approval required. Maine and Virginia require written notification to the landlord; the others require nothing.
Between 2025 and 2026, a wave of state laws quietly rewrote the rules for renters and small-scale solar. What passed, what it means, and what’s still coming.
For most of solar’s history, the rules were simple: if you didn’t own your roof, you were out. Plug-in solar existed, but utilities could — and often did — prohibit it. Landlords could say no. HOAs could block it. Nobody was obligated to let you generate your own power.
That’s changing. Five states have now passed laws that specifically protect plug-in solar users, with more on the way. Here’s what actually happened.
The five states that signed laws
Utah Signed March 2025
Utah was the first state to explicitly protect plug-in solar at the legislative level. HB 340 establishes a clear right for renters to install small-scale solar systems without landlord approval, as long as the system meets UL 3700 safety standards. Utilities are required to allow connection. Effective May 2025.
Maine Signed April 2026
Maine’s law focuses on landlord-tenant dynamics. Landlords cannot prohibit plug-in solar installations on balconies or patios. Tenants must notify (not ask permission from) their landlord in writing, and the system must meet UL 3700 certification and stay under 1,200 watts. Effective July 2026.
Virginia Signed April 2026
Virginia amended its existing solar access law to include plug-in systems. Any landlord restrictions must be in writing in the lease to be enforceable — a lease that’s silent on solar means you’re free to install. Utilities cannot charge fees or impose barriers specifically for plug-in solar. Effective January 1, 2027.
Colorado Signed May 2026
Colorado’s HB26-1007 is notable for two reasons. First, it applies to HOAs as well as landlords — both are prohibited from banning plug-in solar outright. Second, it has the highest wattage ceiling of any US state: 1,920 watts, 60% above the 1,200W standard. HOAs may set reasonable aesthetic guidelines but cannot say no categorically.
Maryland Signed May 2026
Maryland’s Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532) came in with the clearest framing yet: plug-in solar systems are explicitly defined as a household appliance under tenant rights law. Installing one is legally equivalent to installing a window air conditioner. No landlord approval needed, no utility permission required, no interconnection fees permitted.
If you’re in one of these five states: you have legal protection to install a plug-in solar panel without your landlord’s permission. Maine and Virginia require written notification. Colorado, Maryland, and Utah require nothing. Most cap systems at 1,200W — Colorado’s 1,920W limit is the national high.
What’s coming next
SB 868 passed the Senate 35–1 and cleared Assembly committees unanimously. Awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature, with an October 2026 deadline. Would cover approximately 17 million renter households.
The SUNNY Act passed both the Senate and Assembly in June 2026 and is awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. New York City alone has more renter households than the entire population of most states.
HB 5340 passed both chambers June 4, 2026 and awaits the governor’s signature. Mirrors Maryland’s appliance framing at 1,200W.
What these laws don’t do
These laws don’t force utilities to offer net metering for plug-in systems — your savings come from offsetting consumption in real time, not selling power back. They don’t cover interior apartment units with no outdoor space. They don’t apply in states that haven’t enacted them. And Virginia’s protections don’t take effect until January 1, 2027.
If you’re not in one of these states
In most other states, the picture is blurrier. Some utilities are permissive. Some landlords don’t care. But you don’t have a legal backstop if someone objects.
The practical reality: many Americans are running plug-in solar panels without issue in states with no specific law. But if your lease prohibits modifications or your HOA is active, check before you buy. And check our state law tracker — 22 more states have active bills as of mid-2026.
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