Is Plug-In Solar Legal in California?
No California law prohibits plug-in solar or sets rules for it either, which leaves it unregulated rather than banned. In practice that means you could get a system with backfeed protection, so it cannot send power back to the grid. Otherwise your utility can prohibit it. A bill that would set rules has passed both chambers.
California Plug-In Solar Legislation: Where It Stands
How far plug-in solar legislation has got in California, and what that leaves you with today.
Where SB 868 and AB 2612 Stand in California
SB 868 was delivered to Governor Newsom on August 31, 2026. He has until September 30 to sign or veto it. AB 2612 was held in committee on August 13 and is finished for the year.
SB 868 would stop utilities from blocking plug-in solar. The bill was enrolled and sent to Governor Newsom on the evening of August 31, 2026, and he has until September 30 to sign or veto it. If he signs, the law takes effect January 1, 2027. AB 2612 took the different route of adding plug-in solar to state building codes, but the Senate Appropriations Committee held it without a vote on August 13, and because nothing carries over when the two-year session expires on November 30, it would have to be introduced again as a new bill in 2027.
Last updated September 2026. Legislation data sourced from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0) and other public sources.
What to Do While California Has No Plug-In Solar Law
- ℹInstalling a backfeed protection device is the safe course in an unregulated state, so the system cannot send power back to the utility.
- ℹAsk your utility what its rules say about a small system that plugs into an outlet. With no state law on the question, the answer in California comes from your utility rather than from the legislature, and it can differ between two utilities in the same state.
- ℹRead your lease, HOA rules, or condo documents first. California has passed nothing that overrides them, so a landlord or an association can still say no.
- ℹSize the system to what the home draws during daylight. Nothing here earns a credit for power sent back to the grid, so the savings come from what you use as you generate it.
The fastest way to change any of this is to tell your own legislators that you want it changed. The message below is written for where SB 868 and AB 2612 actually are in the process, so it asks for the next step rather than a general show of support.
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Recommended Products
Plug-in solar products that ship to California. California has set no rules of its own, so use backfeed protection and check with your utility before installing one of these.
EZ1-LV Plug-In Microinverter
Purpose-built plug-in solar. No complexity. Just works.
Skip the complexity of multi-input systems. EZ1-LV is designed to do one thing really well—efficiently power two panels with true dual MPPT and a clean plug-and-play setup. No oversizing, no guesswork—just reliable performance you can plug into your home outlet and start using right away. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make setup and monitoring simple, with no installer required.
Buy NowAvailable in: US · UL 1741
Callsun 200W Bifacial Solar Panel (2-Pack)
Pairs with the EcoFlow STREAM series
A 2-pack of 200W N-type bifacial panels. Pairs with the EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter or STREAM Ultra. Each panel fits cleanly into one of the inverter's PV inputs, with room to add more panels as your setup grows. The APsystems EZ1-LV is designed for larger panels (315W and up), so for that inverter see the Callsun 450W panel.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
Callsun 450W Bifacial Solar Panel (2-Pack)
Pairs with the APsystems EZ1-LV
A 2-pack of 450W N-type bifacial panels. One panel goes to each input on the APsystems EZ1-LV, using both of its independent MPPT channels for a 900W array that matches the inverter's 900W output. These panels are not compatible with the EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter or the STREAM Ultra. Both of those inverters cap each input at 14A, and this panel puts out 14.97A at its maximum power point, so it exceeds the rated input current. Check your mounting surface before ordering: each panel is 69.4 x 44.7 inches and weighs 54 lbs.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
IntegraRack IR-30 Ground Mount Frame
Durable ground mount for a yard array
A durable ground mount for anyone with yard space to spare. The aluminum frame sets a panel at a fixed 30° tilt, the right angle almost anywhere in the contiguous US, and stands up to serious wind and snow once anchored. No rails, augers, or concrete footings, and each frame goes together in about two minutes. The price is per frame, and you need one per panel plus one extra to start each row, so a two panel array takes three.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
Want to see where plug-in solar stands in other states? View the interactive map, compare the laws that passed, or browse advocacy resources.
This page summarizes the plug-in solar legislation tracked for California for general information and is not legal advice. Verify details with your utility and your state legislature before installing.