Solar in Florida: The Sunshine State Kept the Good Deal
Florida still has what most states dismantled: one for one net metering at its investor owned utilities, a 100 percent property tax exclusion, and no sales tax on solar equipment. The quirk is on the financing side, where Florida law effectively rules out the classic PPA.
Solar incentives in Florida
State, utility, and local programs that can lower the cost of going solar here. Availability and amounts change, so verify each before counting on it.
| Program | Type | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax exclusion (Fla. Stat. 193.624) | Property tax | 100 percent of the just value a residential renewable energy device adds, panels, inverters, batteries, wiring, and supports, is excluded from property tax assessment. |
| Sales tax exemption (Fla. Stat. 212.08) | Sales tax | Solar energy systems and their components are exempt from Florida sales and use tax, per equipment lists certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center. |
| No state income tax | Structural | Florida has no personal income tax, so there is no state credit to claim; the state's value comes from the tax exclusions and the net metering rules. |
Net metering in Florida
Full retail net metering at the investor owned utilities. Under FPSC Rule 25-6.065, FPL, Duke, TECO, and the other IOUs credit exported kWh against your usage at the full retail rate, with monthly rollover. Credits left at calendar year end are cashed out at the utility's lower as available energy rate, so size to your annual usage rather than beyond it. The 2022 bill that would have rolled this back was vetoed, and no rollback has been signed since. Municipal utilities and co-ops set similar but separate policies.
Going solar in Florida: what shapes the numbers
The local factors that move payback and savings most.
Good terms, cheap power
Florida's netting terms are among the best left in the country, but retail rates around 13 to 19 cents mean each offset kWh saves less than in California. Payback here is won on install price and honest sizing.
Size to the December meter read
Monthly surpluses roll forward at full value, but whatever remains at the annual true up pays out at a wholesale style rate. The winning design covers your annual usage without piling up year end surplus.
Leases and loans, never PPAs
Florida law treats anyone selling electricity as a public utility, which effectively rules out third party PPAs for homeowners. Financing offers here are structured as leases with fixed payments or as loans, and that is a compliance feature, not a red flag.
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Local considerations for Florida homeowners
Conditions and rules that tend to come up when going solar in this state.
- The Solar Rights Act (Fla. Stat. 163.04) makes deed restrictions prohibiting solar unenforceable; HOAs keep only narrow placement authority within 45 degrees of due south
- Solar contracting requires a state certified solar or qualifying contractor license, verifiable through DBPR
- Hurricane wind load requirements shape racking and permitting; ask installers about local wind zone engineering
- Batteries are exempt from the tax breaks too when part of the system, and matter less for economics under full netting but more for storm resilience
- No federal residential credit applies to homeowner purchases placed in service after December 31, 2025
Before you sign a Florida solar contract
Questions worth asking any installer before you commit:
- Is the system sized to my annual usage rather than beyond it, given the year end true up?
- Is the installer a state certified solar contractor I can verify with DBPR?
- Does the racking meet my county's wind load requirements?
- Is this offer a lease or a loan, and are the payments fixed rather than per kWh?
- Does the quote avoid subtracting a federal credit for a 2026 homeowner purchase?
- How are the property tax exclusion and sales tax exemption reflected in the paperwork?
Related solar guides
Solar in Florida: frequently asked questions
Does Florida still have real net metering?
Yes. Investor owned utilities credit exported kWh one for one at the retail rate under FPSC Rule 25-6.065, with monthly rollover and a year end cash out of leftovers at a lower as available rate. The 2022 rollback bill was vetoed and no rollback has been enacted since.
Do solar panels raise property taxes in Florida?
No. Florida excludes 100 percent of the just value a residential renewable energy device adds from property tax assessment, covering panels, inverters, batteries, and supports.
Why can't I get a solar PPA in Florida?
Because selling electricity to a consumer makes an entity a regulated public utility under Florida law, third party PPAs are effectively prohibited under the state's utility regulation framework. Solar financing in Florida is structured as leases with fixed payments or as loans instead.
Can my HOA deny my solar installation in Florida?
Deed restrictions prohibiting solar collectors are unenforceable under the Solar Rights Act. An HOA may only direct placement within an orientation of due south or up to 45 degrees east or west of it, and only where that does not impair performance.
Is solar equipment taxed in Florida?
No sales tax applies to qualifying solar energy systems and components, per the state exemption administered with equipment lists certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center, and the system's added home value is excluded from property tax.
Solar in other states
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