Do I need FPL's or Duke's approval for a plug-in panel?

Under current rules, yes for anything grid-tied. FPL requires online pre-approval before you install, and Duke Energy Florida and TECO run their own interconnection applications.

Will the utility charge me fees for a small system?

For investor-owned utilities, Rule 25-6.065 says Tier 1 systems (10 kW or less) can't be charged fees beyond what other customers pay. Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own terms.

Does Florida's solar-rights law protect balcony solar?

Not on condo, co-op or apartment patio railings. Section 163.04 says it doesn't apply to them.

When could Florida pass a plug-in solar law?

The next regular session convenes March 2, 2027 and can last up to 60 days.

Is Balcony Solar Legal in Florida?

Not yet. Florida has no plug-in or balcony solar law, and no such bill was filed in the 2025 or 2026 sessions. A grid-tied kit falls under the PSC's interconnection rule and your utility's net metering process: an application, a local inspection and utility approval before it runs. The next regular session starts March 2, 2027.

Florida balcony solar at a glance

Status	— No bill yet
Bill	No plug-in solar bill introduced
Size limit	No plug-in limit set in law
Utility interconnection agreement	Required
Utility fees	—
Renter / HOA rules	No renter right: Florida's solar-rights law doesn't apply to patio railings in condominiums, cooperatives or apartments
Last checked	October 28, 2026

What rules apply in Florida today

No plug-in solar law exists. Florida Senate bill searches for 2025 and 2026 found no plug-in, balcony or portable solar bill.
Investor-owned utilities follow PSC Rule 25-6.065, whose smallest tier covers systems of 10 kW or less. The system needs an inverter that disconnects during an outage and must be inspected and approved by local code officials before it runs in parallel with the grid.
For Tier 1 systems the rule bars fees beyond what other retail customers pay, and utilities can't require liability insurance.
FPL requires online pre-approval before you install, a local permit and a signed interconnection agreement, and says not to run the system until the bi-directional meter is installed. Duke Energy Florida and TECO run their own applications.
Municipal utilities and co-ops aren't covered by the PSC rule; state law (§366.91) requires each to set its own interconnection and net metering program.
The solar-rights law (§163.04) stops HOA and deed rules banning solar collectors on buildings, but it does not apply to patio railings in condominiums, cooperatives or apartments.
What you can do now: a panel that charges a portable power station, which you plug devices into and never connect to your home wiring, doesn't run in parallel with the grid.

Can I use balcony solar in Florida right now?

Not as a grid-connected plug-in system with plug-in solar law protections. Until then your utility's normal interconnection rules still apply. What you can do now:

Pick a kit that's UL-certified so it qualifies on day one.
Measure your balcony or railing and check how many hours of direct sun it gets.
Use a panel with a portable power station (battery only, not plugged into your wiring). That setup never connects to the grid, so interconnection rules don't apply.

Renters, landlords and HOAs in Florida

No renter right: Florida's solar-rights law doesn't apply to patio railings in condominiums, cooperatives or apartments. Even so:

Read your lease and HOA rules for anything about balcony attachments or electrical devices.
Ask in writing before mounting anything to a railing.
Prefer clamp-on or freestanding mounts that don't drill into the building.

How much can balcony solar save in Florida?

Find your price per kWh on your FPL, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric (TECO), a municipal utility such as JEA or OUC, or a co-op bill.
Check the kit's estimated yearly output for your location and the way your balcony faces (south is best, then east or west).
Multiply: yearly kWh × your price per kWh = rough yearly savings. Or use the balcony solar calculator.

Shade, railing angle and how much of the power you use while it's being made all change the result. Plug-in systems are meant to offset what your home uses, not to sell power back.

Timeline

1980: Florida's solar-rights law (§163.04) is enacted.
2008: The amended PSC interconnection and net metering rule (25-6.065) takes effect.
March 13, 2026: The 2026 session ends with no plug-in solar bill filed.
March 2, 2027: The 2027 regular session convenes.

FAQ

Is balcony solar legal in Florida?: No law addresses it specifically. A kit that sends power into your home wiring counts as customer-owned generation, which needs an application, a local inspection and utility approval before it runs.
Do I need FPL's or Duke's approval for a plug-in panel?: Under current rules, yes for anything grid-tied. FPL requires online pre-approval before you install, and Duke Energy Florida and TECO run their own interconnection applications.
Will the utility charge me fees for a small system?: For investor-owned utilities, Rule 25-6.065 says Tier 1 systems (10 kW or less) can't be charged fees beyond what other customers pay. Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own terms.
Does Florida's solar-rights law protect balcony solar?: Not on condo, co-op or apartment patio railings. Section 163.04 says it doesn't apply to them.
When could Florida pass a plug-in solar law?: The next regular session convenes March 2, 2027 and can last up to 60 days.

Sources

This page explains the law in plain language. It is not legal advice. Last checked October 28, 2026.