Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont passed a plug-in solar law: S. 202, an act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices (Act 149), effective July 1, 2026. Qualifying portable solar devices up to 1,200 W can plug into a standard outlet with no utility approval and no fees.
View Recommended ProductsVermont Plug-In Solar: Key Facts
What S. 202 allows and requires for portable solar generation devices.
Your utility
- ✓No utility approval needed before you install or use the system
- ✓No utility notification required
- ✓No utility fees allowed for the system
- ✓Exempt from interconnection requirements and agreements
- ℹNot part of the net metering program (offsets your own use)
Other Vermont requirements
- ℹYour home has to be on a smart meter. Plug-in solar can only be connected to a smart-metered service.
- ℹThe panels have to be secured to the ground or to a structure, though the setup can be temporary.
- ℹYou cannot have plug-in solar and net metering at the same time. If you already have net metering, you cannot add plug-in solar.
- ℹYou will not be paid for power the system sends to the grid, so the savings come from the power you use yourself.
- ℹIf the system overloads the electric service to your building, your utility can charge you for that.
- ℹIn a public building, such as a school or town office, the state fire and building safety code still governs how the system is used.
Renter, HOA & local rules
- ℹRenters have a real right to install. Tell your landlord at least 10 days before you install. They then have 10 days to come back with reasonable conditions, and they can require you to pay for any electrical work and to use a licensed electrician for it. If they do not respond in those 10 days, you can go ahead. You cannot do or arrange electrical work without their permission, and they do not have to pay for any.
- ℹAn HOA, deed restriction, or covenant cannot ban plug-in solar, whether the system sits on the building or right next to it. Vermont specifically allows it on patio railings in condos, co-ops, and apartments, which is where balcony solar usually goes and where other renewable energy devices are still excluded.
- ℹYour town cannot use its zoning bylaws to regulate installing, running, or maintaining a plug-in solar system.
What S. 202 Means for You
Vermont set clear rules for plug-in solar in S. 202, better known as Act 149. The Governor signed it on June 16, 2026 and the rules took effect on July 1, 2026. Plug-in solar means a small system you can set up yourself: panels and an inverter that plug into a regular outlet, rather than a rooftop array wired into your electrical panel. Vermont lets you run up to 1,200 watts this way, either as one unit or several that add up to that limit.
The benefit of this law is that you can buy a system and set it up without asking anyone. There is no state permit to apply for and no agreement to sign with your utility, and your utility cannot require its approval, charge you a fee to install it, or make you add equipment beyond what comes in the box. Two things are worth checking before you buy. Your home has to be on a smart meter, and if you already have net metering you cannot add plug-in solar on top of it. You also will not be paid for any power you send to the grid, so the savings come from the power you use as you generate it.
One thing to know before you shop: S. 202 asks for a system certified to UL 3700, and no plug-in solar product has been certified as a complete system yet. Parts of some products are certified, but that is not the same thing. If you are in Vermont, the short answer for now is to wait until a full system is certified.
- Vermont passed a plug-in solar law. S. 202, also known as Act 149, has been in effect since July 1, 2026.
- You can run one or more units per electric meter, up to 1,200 watts of inverter capacity in total.
- The system plugs into a regular outlet instead of being wired into your electrical panel.
- The whole system has to be certified to UL 3700, or to an equal standard by a recognized testing lab, and set up to meet the IEEE 1547 grid safety standard.
- It has to shut itself off during a power outage so it cannot send power into your wiring or out to the grid.
- Your home needs a smart meter, and the panels have to be secured to the ground or a structure.
- You do not need state approval, a permit, or any agreement with your utility.
- Your utility cannot make you ask permission, charge you a fee to install it, or require extra equipment beyond what comes with the system.
- You will not be paid for power sent to the grid, and you cannot combine plug-in solar with net metering.
- Renters can install after giving 10 days notice, and neither your town nor an HOA or deed restriction can ban it.
Solar Payback Calculator
Estimate how long a plug-in solar system takes to pay for itself in Vermont. Enter your ZIP code to get started.
No listed products qualify in Vermont yet — see Recommended Products below for why. You can still add your own equipment.
See your solar savings
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Plug-In Solar Panels, Inverters and Mounts
No plug-in solar products are recommended for Vermont right now.
Vermont requires a plug-in solar system certified to UL 3700, and no product has been certified as a complete system yet. Some individual parts carry that certification, but a certified part does not make a certified system. Nothing sold today meets the rule, so no products are listed for Vermont until a full system is certified.
Want to see where plug-in solar stands in other states? View the interactive map, compare laws, or browse advocacy resources.
This page summarizes S. 202 for general information and is not legal advice. Verify details with your utility and the official bill text before installing.