Is plug-in solar legal in Maryland?

What the Maryland law says

• Size. Up to 1,200 W of AC output.
• Safety listing. Nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL.
• Telling the utility. Yes. Tell your electric company before installing and give them a certification of the safety features and maximum output.

Chapter 353, an emergency bill, so it took effect when signed. Devices up to 391 W are exempt from changes to building wiring or panels. One system per residential meter. Utilities cannot require pre-approval or charge fees for a standard install.

What this means if you live here

The law is in force, so the question is less "is it allowed" and more "which product can I actually buy". Look at the certification line above before you pay for anything. A kit that is not listed to what the law asks for is the place people tend to get stuck.

Renters, condos and apartments

Nothing we have read about the law in Maryland 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 Maryland savings figure on this page yet, because we have not finished checking the state electricity price and a solar output figure for Baltimore. Our calculator is the place to try your own numbers once the US version is up. The method is on the methodology page.

Nearby states we have covered

Virginia. See the full state tracker to compare rules.

How Maryland compares

Other states with a law in force: Utah, Maine and Vermont. For a different picture, see Colorado. A law in force is the easy case to understand, but the kit itself still matters. If you want the plain-English version of what a panel, an inverter and a plug are doing, read how plug-in solar works.