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Is Balcony Solar Legal in My State?

Rules are set state by state and they are moving fast. Pick yours for the honest answer — including when the honest answer is that nobody has written a rule yet.

Rules are set state by state, and most states have no plug-in solar law at all — which is not the same as it being banned. Pick yours for the honest answer.

All 51 US jurisdictions

Legality column last reviewed

Explicitly allowed(1)Legislation moving(0)No specific law(50)
Plug-in balcony solar legal status and average electricity price for every US state and the District of Columbia
StateStatusReference¢/kWh
AlabamaNo specific law—15.2
AlaskaNo specific law—24.1
ArizonaNo specific law—14.3
ArkansasNo specific law—12.4
CaliforniaNo specific law—31.8
ColoradoNo specific law—15.1
ConnecticutNo specific law—29.4
DelawareNo specific law—17.2
District of ColumbiaNo specific law—17.0
FloridaNo specific law—14.6
GeorgiaNo specific law—14.1
HawaiiNo specific law—42.8
IdahoNo specific law—11.4
IllinoisNo specific law—16.4
IndianaNo specific law—14.4
IowaNo specific law—13.1
KansasNo specific law—13.6
KentuckyNo specific law—12.6
LouisianaNo specific law—12.1
MaineNo specific law—25.3
MarylandNo specific law—17.4
MassachusettsNo specific law—30.2
MichiganNo specific law—19.1
MinnesotaNo specific law—14.2
MississippiNo specific law—13.2
MissouriNo specific law—12.3
MontanaNo specific law—12.1
NebraskaNo specific law—11.2
NevadaNo specific law—14.7
New HampshireNo specific law—27.1
New JerseyNo specific law—19.3
New MexicoNo specific law—14.1
New YorkNo specific law—24.2
North CarolinaNo specific law—13.4
North DakotaNo specific law—11.1
OhioNo specific law—16.2
OklahomaNo specific law—11.6
OregonNo specific law—12.7
PennsylvaniaNo specific law—18.1
Rhode IslandNo specific law—29.1
South CarolinaNo specific law—14.2
South DakotaNo specific law—12.4
TennesseeNo specific law—12.4
TexasNo specific law—15.1
UtahExplicitly allowedSB 208 (2025)11.3
VermontNo specific law—22.3
VirginiaNo specific law—14.2
WashingtonNo specific law—11.4
West VirginiaNo specific law—14.3
WisconsinNo specific law—17.1
WyomingNo specific law—12.2

What the three statuses mean

Explicitly allowed
A state law specifically permits plug-in balcony solar. You still follow the equipment and notification rules in the statute.
Legislation moving
A bill is moving that would spell out the rules. Until it passes, your utility's interconnection policy is what decides.
No specific law
No state law permits or bans plug-in solar outright. That does not mean it is illegal — it means your utility's interconnection rules and your building's own agreement decide.

Common questions

Is balcony solar illegal in most US states?

No. Most states have no law that specifically permits or bans plug-in solar, which is a gray zone rather than a ban. In practice your utility's interconnection rules and your lease or HOA agreement are what decide.

Which states have legalised plug-in balcony solar?

Utah was the first, with SB 208 in 2025, which exempts small plug-in systems from the standard interconnection application. Other states have looked at similar bills, so check the tracker for the current picture.

Do I need my utility's permission for a balcony solar kit?

In most of the US, yes — the interconnection rules that cover rooftop solar do not carve out small plug-in systems, so the safe answer is to notify your utility before you plug anything in.

Does a gray zone mean I will get in trouble?

It means nobody has written a rule either way, so the risk sits with your utility agreement rather than state law. Read your terms of service, and if your building is involved, get the mount approved in writing.

How this is worked out

The legality column tracks state statutes only. A state marked No specific lawhas not banned plug-in solar — it has simply never written a rule for it, so your utility’s interconnection policy and your lease or HOA agreement are what apply.

Electricity prices are approximate residential averages in cents per kilowatt-hour, used for order-of-magnitude savings math rather than billing precision. Your own rate, and whether your utility offers net metering, will move the number.

This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Confirm with your utility and your state’s public utility commission before you install anything.

Legal where you are? Now find out what it saves.

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