Florida protects your right to go solar, and its rules are mostly about how a system is connected, permitted and taxed. Here is what the law says, in plain words.
This page covers the rules: your right to install, grid connection, permits and taxes. If you are weighing solar panels in Florida as a whole, start with our Florida solar panels guide, which covers 2026 install prices, net metering under FPL and Tampa Electric, the 10 kW insurance line, storm-rated mounting and the installers we vet for Florida wind. Then come back here for the paperwork.
The money questions have their own Florida pages: what solar costs in Florida in 2026, which Florida incentives still pay, what a free solar offer in Florida really means, whether solar is worth it in Florida, and the Florida installers we vet. This page stays on the rules.
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Your Right to Install Solar in Florida
Florida’s solar rights law (section 163.04 of the Florida Statutes) says no ordinance, deed restriction, covenant or HOA rule may prohibit solar equipment on your home. An HOA may decide where on the roof the panels go, but only within the area that faces south or up to 45 degrees east or west of south, and only if its choice does not impair the system’s performance.
Connecting to the Grid and Net Metering
Most Florida homes connect their system to the grid and use net metering. For Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric and Florida Public Utilities, the Public Service Commission’s rule 25-6.065 sets the terms. It sorts systems into three sizes:
- Tier 1, up to 10 kW: the utility may not require liability insurance.
- Tier 2, over 10 kW up to 100 kW: the utility may require general liability insurance of up to $1 million.
- Tier 3, over 100 kW up to 2 MW: up to $2 million in insurance.
You sign an interconnection agreement with your utility before the system is switched on. City-owned utilities and electric co-ops write their own rules. Batteries are allowed.
Permits and Inspections
Your city or county building department issues the permit. Expect an application, a fee, and plans such as a site plan and electrical drawings. After installation, the building department inspects the work, and only then does your utility connect the system. Use a licensed contractor; you can check any Florida license on the state’s DBPR license lookup.
Florida Tax Rules for Solar
Florida has no state solar rebate and no state income tax, so there is no state tax credit. It does have two tax exemptions. Solar equipment is exempt from sales tax (section 212.08). And the value solar adds to your home is exempt from property tax (section 193.624). The 30% federal credit ended for home systems finished after December 31, 2025.
Florida Solar Laws FAQs
Is it legal to have solar panels in Florida?
Yes. Florida law (section 163.04) bars rules, deed restrictions and HOA covenants that prohibit solar. An HOA can choose where on the roof panels go, but only if that does not hurt how the system works.
Do solar panels have to be connected to the grid in Florida?
Most Florida homes connect to the grid to use net metering, and batteries are allowed alongside it. If you connect, you sign an interconnection agreement with your utility before the system is switched on.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Florida?
Yes. Your city or county building department issues the permit and inspects the work before your utility connects the system.
Does Florida have a solar rebate?
No. Florida has no state solar rebate and no state income tax credit. It has two tax exemptions: no sales tax on solar equipment, and no property tax on the value solar adds to a home.
