Is plug-in solar legal in California?

What the California law says

• Size. Up to 1,200 W of AC output.
• Safety listing. Plug-in PV certification by UL or an equivalent lab; meets the latest National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code.
• Telling the utility. A utility may ask for a simple online registration of your address and device, but cannot charge a fee or require approval.

Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026. From 1 Jan 2030 the exemption from interconnection ends, and non-compliant devices cannot be sold in California.

What has started and what has not

The bill is signed, which means the direction is settled. What is still open is timing and detail: the main provisions start on 01 Jan 2027. Until then there is no settled legal route here, so check this page again before you buy a kit. We will change the status once it is running.

Renters, condos and apartments

Nothing we have read about the law in California covers renters, landlords or condo associations, so we will not guess. Your lease and your landlord's rules still apply.

What it might save you

We have not put a California savings figure on this page yet, because we have not finished checking the state electricity price and a solar output figure for Los Angeles. Our calculator is the place to try your own numbers once the US version is up. The method is on the methodology page.

How California compares

Other states with a signed law that has not fully started: Virginia, Colorado and Connecticut. For a different picture, see Utah. While you wait for the start date, it helps to know what you would be buying. How plug-in solar works explains the parts, and it is worth reading before you shop.