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Sources last reviewed 2026-10-02

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California plug-in solar status

Enacted — effective laterEnacted — effective January 1, 2027
Where California stands: Governor Gavin Newsom signed California's Plug and Play Solar Act (SB 868) on September 30, 2026. It is enacted as Chapter 985 and takes effect January 1, 2027.

The key facts

Bill or law
SB 868
Size limit
1,200 watts of combined AC output per dwelling
Enacted
2026-09-30
Effective date / scope
2027-01-01

Future effective dates

  • 2030-01-01: The temporary waiver of utility connection requirements ends. A separate rule starts banning sales of plug-in solar devices that lack the required electrical-code compliance, system certification, or outage protection.

Timing and implementation

  • Signed and chaptered as Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026, on September 30, 2026. The January 1, 2027 start date follows California's regular-session statute effective-date rule; SB 868 has no urgency clause.
  • The new exemptions are not in force before January 1, 2027. Confirm existing utility and local requirements before installing.
  • The January 1, 2030 expiration removes the special utility protections in Section 8531. It does not repeal the entire law or automatically require every installed kit to be removed.

The law covers qualifying receptacle-connected photovoltaic devices with maximum aggregated AC output of 1,200 watts per dwelling, intended to offset onsite electricity use.

Qualifying systems must meet the most recent versions of the National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code, be certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory, and include certified isolation to prevent grid backfeed during an outage. Certification of an individual panel or inverter alone does not establish certification of the complete plug-in system.

What the exemption covers: from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029, a qualifying kit is exempt from state, CPUC, and covered utility interconnection requirements — the paperwork and conditions for connecting a generator to the grid. This includes interconnection agreements. Investor-owned and local publicly owned utilities also cannot require advance permission, fees related to the device or the electricity it feeds into the building, or extra controls or equipment beyond those built into the kit.

Your utility may still ask you to submit a simple online notice listing your address and the kit's make, model, and size. This is notification, not an application for permission.

These utility exemptions do not waive local building and fire codes or landlord and HOA requirements. Confirm the applicable rules and complete-system certification before buying.

What happens when it expires: on January 1, 2030, Section 8531 is repealed. Unless the law is extended or replaced, SB 868 will no longer shield qualifying kits from utility connection requirements, approval processes, fees, or extra-equipment requirements. Which requirements actually apply will depend on the laws and utility rules in place then.

For a kit installed before 2030, SB 868 contains no explicit grandfather clause preserving the exemption. It also does not order all existing kits to be disconnected on that date. Owners should check the rules for continued operation as the deadline approaches; today's exemption is not a guarantee of permanent permission.

A separate sales rule begins January 1, 2030: plug-in solar devices cannot be sold or offered for sale in California unless they meet the law's electrical-code, system-certification, and outage-protection requirements. That rule governs sales; it does not extend the utility exemption.

Installation checklist for California

  • Wait until January 1, 2027; the special utility exemption ends January 1, 2030 unless extended or replaced.
  • Verify complete-system NRTL certification, outage isolation, electrical-code compliance, and combined output no higher than 1,200 W AC per dwelling.
  • Check any utility online notice, local building and fire requirements, safe mounting, and landlord or HOA rules.

Before you buy in California

This page is informational research, not legal advice — and it can fall out of date quickly. Before installing anything, confirm the current law and its start date, any size limit, your local building and fire codes, your utility’s requirements, that the kit is certified as a complete system, your landlord or homeowners association (HOA) rules, a safe way to mount it, and the maker’s instructions.

California plug-in solar FAQ

Is plug-in solar legal in California now?

SB 868 was signed September 30, 2026, but its new utility exemption starts January 1, 2027. As of this October 2, 2026 review, signing alone does not let you bypass existing utility requirements. From the start date, only systems meeting all of the law's conditions qualify; local code and property requirements still need to be checked.

Do I need utility approval or registration for a qualifying kit?

From January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029, covered utilities cannot require advance approval or an interconnection agreement for a qualifying kit. They may require a simple online notice with your address and the device's make, model, and size. That notice cannot be turned into an approval requirement.

Does the 1,200-watt limit apply to each panel or to my whole dwelling?

It applies to the combined maximum AC output of all qualifying devices per dwelling. Adding panels or using several kits does not create separate 1,200-watt allowances. The limit measures AC output, rather than the panels' advertised DC wattage.

What certification does California require?

The device must be certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory, with certified outage isolation. A certification mark on an inverter alone does not establish that the assembled kit qualifies. UL 3700 is a plug-in-system certification framework, but SB 868 does not name it specifically. Verify the exact system model and certification scope before buying.

Does SB 868 let me use any outlet or skip local permits?

No blanket permission is created for any outlet or installation. Qualifying devices must meet the most recent National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code. The utility exemption does not waive local building or fire rules. Follow the certified system's installation instructions and confirm the applicable local permit, circuit, receptacle, and mounting requirements.

Can my landlord or HOA still restrict installation?

SB 868 does not add landlord or HOA access protections. Whether a restriction is valid depends on your lease, property rules, and any other applicable solar-access laws. The utility exemption alone does not authorize changes to a balcony, shared area, or building wiring.

Does the exemption eliminate my electric bill or pay me for exports?

No. It bars covered utilities from charging fees related to a qualifying device or the electricity it feeds into the building during the exemption period. It does not eliminate ordinary electricity charges or create a payment program for surplus power sent to the grid. SB 868 does not promise net-metering eligibility or preserve an existing rooftop-solar tariff when a system is changed.

What happens when the utility exemption expires on January 1, 2030?

Section 8531 is repealed on that date. Unless extended or replaced, the special protection from utility connection requirements, approval, fees, and extra equipment ends. Our reading is that the rules in force then will determine continued operation: SB 868 contains neither an explicit grandfather clause for earlier installations nor an order to disconnect every kit. Check updated rules before the deadline.

What is the separate sales rule that starts in 2030?

Starting January 1, 2030, Section 8532 bans selling or offering for sale receptacle-connected solar devices that lack the required electrical-code compliance, system certification, or certified outage isolation. It addresses product sales, not continued utility permission. It does not extend the expiring interconnection exemption.

Estimate your savings in California

Use the calculator to get a rough idea. For a truer number, swap the national average electricity price for your own rate (it’s on your bill), and remember that surplus power you send back may earn nothing unless your state and utility specifically pay for it.

Estimated monthly savings$12
Electricity made per year794 kWh
Time to pay off8.0 years

A planning estimate, not a promise. It doesn’t check whether plug-in solar is legal where you live, whether a kit is certified, whether your outlet or mount is suitable, or whether your utility pays for surplus power.

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