Is Plug-In Solar Legal? Law Status by State
Plug-in solar laws have passed in 10 states. In 6 of them, you can plug in a kit today. In the other 4, the law starts later. New York has passed a bill too, and it waits for the governor (the state's top official) to sign it. A few other places are still talking about one. Everywhere else, the normal rules your power company has for small home solar apply.
Where Plug-In Solar Is Legal by State: Status, Limits, and Bills
Find your state in this table. Plug-in solar means a small solar kit you plug into a wall outlet, and the table shows if it is allowed and which bill sets the rules. Kit size is counted in watts: a bigger number means a stronger kit. A bill is a written plan for a new law. H means the House and S means the Senate, the two parts of a state's lawmakers.
| State | Status | Biggest kit allowed | Bill | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,920 watts | Bill HB26-1007 | Since Aug 12, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill HB 5340 | Since Oct 1, 2026 |
| Maine | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill LD 1730 | Since Jul 29, 2026 |
| Maryland | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill HB 1532 | Since Jul 1, 2026 |
| Utah | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill HB 340 | Since May 7, 2025 |
| Vermont | Allowed by state law | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill S.202 | Since Jul 1, 2026 |
| California | Law passed, starts later | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill SB 868 | Starts Jan 1, 2027 |
| New Hampshire | Law passed, starts later | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill SB 540-FN | Starts Jan 1, 2027 |
| New Jersey | Law passed, starts later | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill S 2368 | Starts Mar 1, 2027 |
| Virginia | Law passed, starts later | Up to 1,200 watts | Bill HB 395 | Starts Jan 1, 2027 |
| New York | Bill passed, not signed yet | 1,200 watts in the bill | Bill S 8512C |
Lawmakers are discussing a bill
No plug-in solar law yet
Download every state's status as a spreadsheet (a CSV file that opens in Excel): plug-in-solar-law-by-state.csv. Every state page links to its bill and to the power company pages we used.
How the New Laws Are Alike
Utah passed the first one in 2025, and the laws passed since then are very similar. Under these laws, a kit must pass a safety test meant for plug-in solar. Many of them name a test called UL 3700. UL is Underwriters Laboratories, a company that tests products for safety. The kit must turn itself off when the power goes out. It also can't be bigger than the size limit, which is 1,200 watts in most of these states.
If your kit follows these rules, you don't need special permission or paperwork from your power company. Most of these laws also say the power company can't charge you a fee. Some let the power company ask for a short form about your kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is plug-in solar allowed in the US?
There is no national rule. Each state makes its own. In 6 states, a law already lets you plug in a kit without special permission from the power company, as long as the kit passed a safety test. In 4 more, the law starts later. Elsewhere, the normal home solar rules of your power company still apply.
What is UL 3700?
It is a safety test made just for plug-in solar. When the power goes out, the kit turns itself off. It also makes sure it never sends more power into your home's wires than they can safely carry. Some states require this test, or another one that is just as strict. UL 1741 is an older safety test, made for ordinary rooftop solar panels that an electrician wires into your home.
What if my state doesn't have a law?
Start by asking your power company. Most of them treat a plug-in kit just like a small home solar system. So you fill out a request and wait for their approval before you switch it on.