Maryland’s Plug-In Solar Law

Maryland’s Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532) is one of the strongest plug-in solar laws in the country. It explicitly classifies plug-in solar systems as household appliances — the same category as a window air conditioner or portable dishwasher — which means landlords cannot prohibit them and utilities cannot require interconnection approval or charge fees for them.

Law Details

Bill	HB 1532 (Utility RELIEF Act)
Signed	May 2026
Maximum system size	1,200 watts
Legal classification	Household appliance — no utility approval required
Landlord restrictions	Landlords cannot prohibit
Safety certification required	UL 3700 (target standard)
Status	In effect

A note on that certification line: UL 3700 is the safety standard written specifically for plug-in solar, but it only launched in early 2026 and no products have completed certification under it yet. In practice, kits meeting the established UL 1741 standard for grid-connected inverters — like the ones on our recommended kits page — are what’s actually available and used to meet this requirement today.

What This Means for Renters

Maryland’s appliance framing is especially powerful for renters. Because plug-in solar is classified the same as any other household appliance, your landlord cannot add language to your lease prohibiting it — and if they try to force you to remove it, they’re in violation of state law. You do not need to notify or seek permission from your landlord or utility before installing.

Maryland Savings Estimates

Maryland’s electricity rate averages around $0.15–0.17/kWh. At those rates, a single 400W panel saves roughly $8–9/month, with a payback of 5–6 years. Two panels drops payback to around 4–5 years and saves $16–18/month.

Track Maryland’s law and all other US states at the Solarly state law tracker. Last updated: June 2026.