Is balcony solar legal in Vermont?
Short answer · In force
Yes, since July 1, 2026. Vermont's Act 149 lets you install plug-in solar up to 1,200 W combined inverter capacity per meter, with no certificate of public good or interconnection agreement. Renters give the landlord 10 days' notice.
Last checked: · Law: S.202 (2026), Act 149, 30 V.S.A. § 256
What the law says
| Status | Signed by the Governor June 16, 2026 (Act 149) law text |
|---|---|
| In force | July 1, 2026 (Legislative Counsel's act summary) law text |
| Size limit | One or more devices per electric meter, combined inverter capacity not more than 1,200 W law text |
| Mounting | Temporarily but securely attached to the ground or a structure law text |
| Utility rules | No certificate of public good or interconnection agreement needed if the device meets the statute law text |
| Renters | Give the landlord at least 10 days' notice. The landlord may reply within 10 days with reasonable restrictions (e.g. a licensed electrician at the tenant's cost); silence = you may go ahead. No electrical work without the landlord's permission law text |
| Certification | Not confirmed from the statute text in this check reported |
law text = read in the bill, statute or an official government page. reported = from news or a tracker; we could not confirm it in an official source yet.
Where sources disagree
An earlier draft let the landlord simply refuse; the enacted text gives the landlord reasonable restrictions instead. Trackers say UL 3700 is required; we have not confirmed that wording.
Sources
- Vermont Legislature: S.202 status official
- Act 149 summary (PDF) official
- Act 149 as enacted (PDF) official
All sources read on 2026-11-03.
Before you plug in
- Check with your utility whether it wants a notice, and how (the rules above say what it may and may not ask).
- Renting or in an HOA? Read renters & HOAs and ask your landlord or board in writing.
- Buy a kit with a certification you can look up. See certified kits.
- Estimate what it saves in Vermont: savings calculator.
This page quotes the rule; it is not legal or electrical advice.