Balcony Solar in Virginia: What the New Law Allows and When

Short answer: from January 1, 2027, Virginians can use a certified plug-in solar device of up to 1,200 W per customer (or per unit in multifamily buildings) after notifying their utility. Utilities can't require approval or fees. Tenants of landlords with more than four units gain the right to install one outside their unit, within reasonable rules.

Status

Signed, starts January 1, 2027

Law

HB 395 / SB 250 (2026 Acts ch. 998 and 1052)

Maximum output

1,200 W per customer or per unit

Utility notice

Required before installing (SCC form, 15-day window)

Renter protection

Yes, for landlords with more than 4 units

Net metering

No

Virginia's General Assembly passed the bill in the 2026 session, making it one of the first states after Utah. It adds two things Utah's law lacks: a formal notice to the utility and a right for many renters to install. For other states, see the 50-state map.

What counts as a "small portable solar generation device"

• a movable photovoltaic device with a maximum output of 1,200 watts per customer, or per residential unit in multifamily housing;
• designed to connect through an electrical outlet;
• certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.7) or equivalent, and compliant with the latest National Electrical Code;
• with a feature that stops it from exporting power during an outage.

The law includes a carve-out for very small devices of 391 W or less. Portable solar devices are not eligible for net metering and are treated as "goods" (so they're sold like appliances).

Notifying your utility: how it works

1. Fill in the notification form established by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) before you install. Expect it to ask for your account, the device and its certification.
2. Wait up to 15 days. If your utility (Dominion Energy, Appalachian Power or a co-op) doesn't respond in that time, you are deemed to have met the requirement.
3. Disconnect switch: where there is more than one device, the utility may install an automatic, locking disconnect switch.

As of October 2026 we have not seen the final SCC form. We will link it here as soon as it is published.

Renters: the most important part of Virginia's law

Code of Virginia § 55.1-1212.1, effective January 1, 2027, says a landlord who owns more than four rental units (or more than a 10% interest in more than four) shall not prohibit a tenant from installing a small portable solar device on the exterior of the tenant's premises. In practice:

• The landlord can set reasonable restrictions on size, placement and manner, and can restrict installation elsewhere on the property (roof, shared areas).
• You must give the landlord at least seven days' notice with supporting documentation and the proposed location.
• You are responsible for damage your device causes, and the landlord isn't liable for habitability problems caused solely by it.
• If your unit is on ratio utility billing (you pay a share of a building-wide bill), you need the landlord's express written approval.

Smaller landlords (four units or fewer) can still say no. Our guide Can my landlord stop me? includes a letter template you can adapt for the seven-day notice.

What a kit saves in Virginia

At Virginia's average residential price of about 17.6¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), an 800 W kit hanging vertically on a south-facing railing produces roughly 670 kWh a year and saves about $90 to $95 if you use 80% of it. The same kit tilted toward the south with no shade produces about 1,060 kWh and saves about $150. Try your own numbers in the calculator preset for Virginia.

What to do before January 2027

• Choose a kit with a certified microinverter (ideally UL 3700) so you are ready on day one. See the kit buying guide.
• Plan your mounting spot and talk to your landlord early if you rent.
• Don't connect before January 1, 2027: until then, normal interconnection rules apply.

Frequently asked questions