Balcony Sun Lab

Plug-in & balcony solar · US and UK

Is plug-in solar legal where you live?

Independent, source-linked guides to the laws, kits and real savings of solar panels you plug into a wall outlet. Built for renters, condo owners and anyone who can't put panels on a roof.

In the UK? Plug-in solar is legal in Great Britain since 27 August 2026 →

  • 6 states in force, 4 signed
  • Official sources on every page
  • We don't sell kits
Alabama: No law yetALAlaska: Bill in 2026AKArizona: Bill in 2026AZArkansas: No law yetARCalifornia: Signed, starts laterCAColorado: Legal nowCOConnecticut: Legal nowCTDelaware: Bill in 2026DEDistrict of Columbia: Bill in 2026DCFlorida: No law yetFLGeorgia: No law yetGAHawaii: Bill in 2026HIIdaho: Bill in 2026IDIllinois: Bill in 2026ILIndiana: Bill in 2026INIowa: Bill in 2026IAKansas: No law yetKSKentucky: No law yetKYLouisiana: No law yetLAMaine: Legal nowMEMaryland: Legal nowMDMassachusetts: Bill in 2026MAMichigan: Bill in 2026MIMinnesota: Bill in 2026MNMississippi: No law yetMSMissouri: Bill in 2026MOMontana: No law yetMTNebraska: No law yetNENevada: No law yetNVNew Hampshire: Signed, starts laterNHNew Jersey: Signed, starts laterNJNew Mexico: No law yetNMNew York: Awaiting governorNYNorth Carolina: Bill in 2026NCNorth Dakota: No law yetNDOhio: Bill in 2026OHOklahoma: Bill in 2026OKOregon: No law yetORPennsylvania: Bill in 2026PARhode Island: Bill in 2026RISouth Carolina: Bill in 2026SCSouth Dakota: No law yetSDTennessee: No law yetTNTexas: No law yetTXUtah: Legal nowUTVermont: Legal nowVTVirginia: Signed, starts laterVAWashington: No law yetWAWest Virginia: No law yetWVWisconsin: No law yetWIWyoming: No law yetWY
  • Legal now
  • Signed, starts later
  • Awaiting governor
  • Bill in 2026
  • No law yet
Status on October 22, 2026: 6 states with a law in force, 4 signed and starting later, 1 awaiting the governor. Select a state for details.

Latest law changes

Full tracker
  1. Connecticut's plug-in solar law (HB 5340) takes effect: up to 1,200 W per meter.
  2. California Governor Newsom signs SB 868. Plug-in solar up to 1,200 W becomes legal on January 1, 2027.
  3. New Jersey signs the Garden State Balcony Solar Act. It takes effect March 1, 2027.
  4. Plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, with an 800 W limit and strict product rules.
  5. Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators begin conference talks on energy bills that include plug-in solar.

How much would you save?

Pick your state, kit size and balcony direction. The calculator uses state sunshine estimates and EIA electricity prices to show yearly savings and payback.

Open the savings calculator

New to plug-in solar? Start here

Four guides that answer the first questions everyone asks.

Install & Safety3 min readWhat is plug-in solar? Balcony solar explainedPlug-in (balcony) solar explained: how a kit plugs into a wall outlet and powers your home, what it costs, what it saves, where it's legal and who it's for.Read guide Savings3 min readIs balcony solar worth it? Honest pros and consWhen plug-in balcony solar pays off and when it doesn't: power prices, sun, space, landlord rules, batteries, and how it compares with other options.Read guide Renters & HOA3 min readSolar for renters: can you use balcony solar in an apartment?Renters can often use plug-in balcony solar if their state allows it and the landlord agrees. Your rights, no-drill options, and how to start.Read guide Install & Safety3 min readIs plug-in solar safe? Fire, shock and backfeed risks explainedThe real risks of plug-in balcony solar: live plug prongs, circuit overload, outage backfeed and falling panels, and how certification prevents them.Read guide

Explore by topic

Follow the path: is it legal → does it pay → what about my landlord → which kit → how to install it.

LawsWhich states allow it, the limits and the paperwork.24 guides Kits & BatteriesCertified kits, sizes, batteries and what to check before you pay.6 guides SavingsWhat a kit really saves in your state, and when it pays off.5 guides Renters & HOALandlords, leases, HOA rules and your state protections.5 guides Install & SafetyHow it works, how to mount it and how to stay safe.7 guides UKLegal since 27 August 2026: the 800 W rules explained.3 guides

Most-read guides

Laws4 min readIs balcony solar legal in my state? The 50-state mapPlug-in balcony solar is legal in 6 states today and signed into law in 4 more. See every state's status, wattage limit and start date, updated October 2026.Read guide Kits4 min readBest plug-in solar kits in the US: what to buy and what to avoidWhich plug-in balcony solar kits are sold in the US in 2026, which have UL 3700 or UL 1741 certification, what they cost and how to check before you buy.Read guide Savings4 min readHow much does balcony solar save per month? Real numbers by stateAn 800 W balcony solar kit saves about $6 to $18 a month in most US states, more in California and Hawaii. Production, savings and payback by state.Read guide Laws2 min readBalcony solar in California: SB 868 and what changes in 2027California's SB 868 legalizes plug-in solar up to 1,200 W from January 1, 2027. Registration, certification, renters, savings at California prices.Read guide Renters & HOA3 min readCan my landlord stop me from installing balcony solar?In most states your landlord can say no to balcony solar. Where the law limits that (Virginia, New Jersey, Colorado) and a free request letter.Read guide UK4 min readPlug-in solar is now legal in the UK: what changed on 27 August 2026Plug-in solar became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026. The 800 W limit, the special plug, DNO notification, where you can't install it and what it saves.Read guide

Independent by design

Every law page links to the bill text or the regulator, shows the date it was last checked and keeps a public update log. We explain when plug-in solar is not worth it, and we never let a brand pay for a ranking.

How we research