California’s New Plug-In Solar Law Leaves Renters in Legal Limbo

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Plug and Play Solar Act will let Californians place certified plug-in solar panels up to 1,200 watts on balconies or patios without obtaining utility permission, effective in January. The measure is touted as a renter solution because it avoids roof work, yet numerous leases explicitly prohibit such installations and the statute is silent on landlord authority. Legal scholar Joseph Kaatz explains that the existing Solar Rights Act shields homeowners but does not clearly extend to rental agreements, leaving the issue open to interpretation.

While states like New Jersey, Colorado and Virginia have enacted renter-protective clauses, California’s version lacks them, prompting landlord worries about insurance liability and fire hazards. Rental-housing associations are reviewing the bill’s implications, and advocacy groups suggest amending the Solar Rights Act to cover tenants. Manufacturers point out that most U.S. buyers are still homeowners, and certification requirements—such as UL Solutions demanding electrician-installed outlets—further limit renter adoption, though exemptions for low-watt kits are being pursued.