Maryland solar panel laws in 2026: what changed and what hasn't

Maryland’s Utility RELIEF Act, signed May 12, 2026, touches four parts of a home solar project: how your city or county permits it, how fast the utility must handle meter work, how net metering changes after July 1, 2027, and whether a plug-in panel is legal. Some pieces are in force; others are still ahead.^1,2 The HOA and roof-layout rules below are older law and local code, not part of the Act.

What the Utility RELIEF Act changed for homeowners

The Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act is House Bill 1532, enacted as Chapter 353. Its permitting and plug-in solar sections took effect July 1, 2026. The net-metering sections took effect on enactment, May 12, 2026, though the program they change runs until July 1, 2027.²

The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates the utilities. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) decides when the permit-software exception for unmaintained software applies.^1,3

One project can need a permit, an association decision and the utility’s permission, each from a different office. Soleil’s residential solar process shows where each fits, and our Maryland solar installation process guide walks through the sequence.

What changes for solar permits by August 2027?

By August 1, 2027, every Maryland county and municipality must run qualifying permit software for residential solar, storage, main panel upgrades and panel derates, unless an exception applies. A $500 fee cap on software-issued rooftop permits starts the same day, so a county can’t set a higher fee for those permits.^6,7

The law defines “qualifying” by what the software does. It must automate plan review against the state building performance standards, the National Electrical Code (with local amendments) and locally adopted building codes. It must produce code-compliant approvals, take payment online, and issue the permit or revision as soon as the fee is paid.¹⁰

Once a project goes through the software, these rules apply:¹¹

• The authority must complete required inspections within an average of five business days after a properly completed request. It’s an average, not a deadline for each visit.
• Any manual review of a software-approved permit must finish within five business days after approval.
• Review of a software-submitted residential solar application is limited to state and local health and safety requirements.
• Inspectors may review the construction documents the software produces.

The fee cap is narrower than a statewide flat price. It applies to permits issued by the software for residential rooftop systems, and a third-party payment-processing charge can sit on top of the $500.⁷ The size limit is unsettled on paper: the Chapter 353 text prints the cap paragraph twice, once with a 20-kilowatt AC inverter threshold and once with 30 kilowatts, and the Department of Legislative Services describes 20.⁷ Until the Act is clarified, check with your permit office before assuming a larger system is covered.

Not every authority has to comply. The requirements don’t apply where a county or town doesn’t require a permit for residential solar, or where MEA decides the software is no longer updated or maintained. MEA must also delay or suspend the requirement if state or federal money to help authorities adopt software runs short. The Attorney General can seek court enforcement against an authority that fails to comply.³

You can already see the end state in one county. Montgomery County’s eSolar route issues an electronic building permit as soon as the fee is paid, and the county says you still need a separate electrical permit. It excludes ballasted roof systems, municipalities with their own site rules, historic properties, and services above 400 amps.¹² That’s one county’s process, not a rule for the rest of Maryland. MEA’s May 2026 notice of upcoming programs also lists a SolarAPP+ grant for permitting authorities, so check MEA’s incentives page for the current status.¹³

Does the five-day meter rule set a deadline for utility approval?

No. Section 1-1320(f) covers one task: the meter disconnection and reconnection needed to interconnect residential solar or storage. It sets no deadline for the utility’s full approval, and says it may not be construed to alter the PSC’s small-generator interconnection standards. Permission to operate falls under those standards.^5,14

The subsection tells an electric company to perform that meter work within five business days after receiving a properly completed request from the owner or installer. The company may authorize qualified personnel outside the company to do the work. Municipal electric utilities are left out.^5,14

Common mistake: treating a passed county inspection as the utility’s go-ahead. A county sign-off doesn’t prove the utility received a complete meter request. Ask the installer for the submission record and the utility’s response.

The clause covers the utility’s meter work only. It isn’t permission to operate the system, and it doesn’t let anyone but the utility or its authorized personnel handle a meter.

What closes on July 1, 2027, and what’s still open in net metering?

Maryland’s current net-metering program closes to new customers at the earlier of 3,000 megawatts of statewide eligible generation or July 1, 2027.⁸ The Act also creates a successor program and keeps net metering for qualifying existing systems.^9,15 Before you rely on a date, get your utility’s current rule in writing.

The statute defines net energy metering as measurement of the difference between the electricity the utility supplies and the electricity the customer-generator feeds back to the grid over the billing period.⁸

Who counts as “in” by July 1, 2027 isn’t final. The PSC’s June 2026 rulemaking proposal (docket RM56) put three versions of the milestone up for comment, each backed by different parties.¹⁶ On October 25, 2026, the docket listed filings through October 13 and no final rule.¹⁷

Source: PSC proposed regulations, RM56, COMAR 20.50.10.01(D).¹⁶

Here’s a hypothetical to show why the choice matters. Say a homeowner signs a contract in November 2026, files an interconnection application in January 2027, and gets permission to operate in August 2027. Under version 1 she’d have met the milestone. Under version 2 she wouldn’t have. Her real answer depends on the rule the PSC adopts, which is why waiting for the final text beats guessing.

The successor program exists mostly on paper so far. The Act directs the PSC to approve a framework by February 1, 2027, for a program starting July 1, 2027. It states the General Assembly’s intent that the new program pay less in incentives than the current one. It stays open until combined capacity across both programs reaches 6,000 megawatts, and it tells the PSC to prioritize review of applications from customers who were in the utility’s net-metering interconnection queue when the program was implemented.⁹

A PSC working group is drafting the framework, with a draft report and framework due to the PSC by October 27, 2026. On October 25, the PC 78 docket listed only the May 14 notice, so check the docket for what has been filed since.^18,19 Export compensation for new systems isn’t set. Our net metering successor guide tracks that process, and the net metering deadline guide covers the cutoff.

Existing systems get a grandfathering rule. A customer under a net-metering contract or tariff on July 1, 2027, stays eligible until the earliest of four events: the system is decommissioned, it’s modified to increase grid injection (more modules than when it was first placed in service) or AC output capacity, it signs a new interconnection agreement, or it’s repowered.¹⁵

“Repowered” has a definition. It means replacing, in one action or a series, more than 80 percent of the modules’ direct current (DC) nameplate capacity as of the date the system was first placed in service.²⁰ Routine repair, roof replacement, defect fixes, casualty repairs and replacements a utility or government requires are excluded from that definition. The statute lists the output-change and new-agreement triggers separately from “repowered.”^20,15 If you’re weighing a battery, an inverter swap or more panels on an existing system, get the utility’s read on your actual scope first. The battery storage page explains how that assessment works.

Can an HOA block solar panels in Maryland?

Only within limits, under a rule older than the 2026 Act. Section 2-119 says a restriction on use may not impose unreasonable limitations on a solar collector system on a roof or exterior wall the owner owns or has the right to exclusive use of. Associations keep control of common areas, and historic property is carved out.²¹

The statute says a restriction is unreasonable if applying it to your proposal raises installation cost by at least 5 percent or cuts projected energy output by at least 10 percent, measured against your initial proposal.²² “Restriction on use” is broad: it covers deed covenants, declarations, contracts and HOA or condo bylaws and rules.²¹

The statute puts the showing on the owner: the owner provides documentation satisfactory to the community association, prepared by an independent solar panel design specialist. The specialist must hold a voluntary industry certification for solar design, or have attested by affidavit to designing at least 30 solar collector systems in the prior three years.²²

Associations keep authority over common areas and common elements. They can prohibit or restrict systems there and set reasonable limits on number, size and placement. The board can also choose to install a system on common property where other law allows. That’s board authority, not an individual owner’s roof right.²³

The section doesn’t apply to restrictions on property listed in, or found eligible for, the Maryland Register of Historic Properties.²⁴ If you’re in dispute, keep your submission, your original design, the requested changes and the written response, and get legal advice on your property’s documents.

What do fire codes mean for roof layout?

Your adopted building, fire and electrical codes govern roof access and ridge setbacks, and they vary by jurisdiction. A spacing figure from another roof doesn’t approve a layout for yours. Ask the designer to name the code provisions on the permit drawings.²⁵

Montgomery County gives one example. Its local amendment to Section R324.6.2 of the 2021 International Residential Code covers adding a new array to an existing installation. It requires a total ridge setback of at least 36 inches across both sides combined. The regulation took effect December 10, 2024.²⁵

That amendment is one input to a layout review, not a complete setback rule for every Maryland roof or every new installation. The permit authority confirms the full code, local amendments and exceptions. Roof access and electrical safety work belong to the professionals responsible for the design and the inspection.

Is plug-in solar legal in Maryland?

Yes, for one kind of portable system, effective July 1, 2026. The system is capped at 1,200 watts, limited to one per electric meter, and must carry testing-laboratory certification. You notify the utility before installing. Rooftop systems follow different rules.^2,4,26

Source: Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-321 and §7-306.^4,26,27

Before installation, you must notify your electric company and give it a certification of the device’s safety features and maximum generating capacity. If the device needs an automatic locking disconnect switch, you pay to install it. The utility can’t charge a fee tied to the device feeding power back, and it isn’t liable for damage the device causes.²⁶

A limited 391-watt exception covers product-listing rules that would otherwise force changes to the premises, wiring or panels. The statute’s definition of a portable system still includes certification by a testing laboratory.^27,4

The PSC’s balcony-solar page warns about electric shock, circuit overload, fire, hot output cords and plugs in sunlight, and meters that can mistreat exported power. For BGE customers it points balcony-solar questions and installation notice to the utility’s Customer Call Center.^28,29 That instruction covers plug-in notice only, not rooftop enrollment or permission to operate. Check property, association and local permit requirements separately.

What should you check before you sign?

A headline about a new law doesn’t tell you what applies at your address. Collect the records and rules for your property, and have the installer say in writing who files each request.

1. Permit route. Find out which authority issues the building and electrical permits, and whether your design qualifies for automated review.
2. Utility milestone. Get the tariff or rule in writing, plus the milestone your project must meet. The final net-metering rule isn’t out yet.
3. Property restrictions. Confirm who owns the roof, what the association requires and whether historic review applies, before you accept a final layout.
4. Written scope. Know who handles permit revisions, inspection requests and utility paperwork. If the proposal leans on a tax credit or other incentive, ask who confirmed it.
5. Licensing. Maryland’s Home Improvement Commission says solar panels must be mounted by a licensed home improvement contractor, and the person who connects them to the electric box or grid needs an electrician’s license issued by the local jurisdiction. A home improvement license doesn’t authorize electrical work.³⁰ Our contractor license guide shows how to check.

Questions about your project? See the solar FAQ or the service area page, then book a free consultation or call (301) 953-4140.

Solar savings and incentive eligibility depend on your roof, your usage, your utility, and your tax situation. Incentive programs change and some have limited funding. We are not tax advisors — we will review your bill with you and tell you what you may qualify for. Confirm any tax credit with a qualified tax professional.

Sources (30)

1. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353 (House Bill 1532, Utility RELIEF Act of 2026), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

2. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Sections 4, 5, 22 and 23 (effective dates), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(d), (e) and (g), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

4. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-321(a) and (b), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(f), effective July 1, 2026, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

6. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(c) to (e), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

7. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(c)(5), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. The chaptered text prints the paragraph twice, with AC inverter thresholds of 20 and 30 kilowatts; the Department of Legislative Services fiscal note, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/fnotes/bil_0002/hb1532.pdf, describes 20 kilowatts (read October 25, 2026). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

8. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-306(a)(9) and (d)(1), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-306.4(b) to (e), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(a)(7), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩

11. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(c)(2) to (6), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩

12. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, eSolar Residential Rooftop Solar Panels, https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/all-permits/residential-permits/esolar-residential-rooftop-solar-panels, current page, read October 25, 2026. ↩

13. Maryland Energy Administration, General Notice of Intent for Upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 Energy Programs, https://energy.maryland.gov/SiteAssets/Pages/all-incentives/ACCESSIBLE%20FY27%20General%20Notice%20of%20Upcoming%20Programs.pdf, last modified May 20, 2026; read October 25, 2026. ↩

14. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Local Government §1-1320(f)(1) to (3), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

15. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-306(d)(5), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

16. Maryland PSC, Proposed Regulations, RM56 (COMAR 20.50.10.01(D)), https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Proposed-Regulations-RM-56.pdf, posted June 2026; read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

17. Maryland PSC, Rulemaking RM56 docket (filings through October 13, 2026), https://webpscxb.pscmaryland.com/DMS/rm/RM56, read October 25, 2026; no final rule listed. ↩

18. Maryland PSC, Notice Convening a Public Conference (PC 78), https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Notice_Convening-a-PC-PC-78.pdf, May 14, 2026; read October 25, 2026. ↩

19. Maryland PSC, Administrative Docket PC 78 (Utility RELIEF Act Net Energy Metering Successor Program), https://webpscxb.pscmaryland.com/DMS/pc/PC78, docket opened May 14, 2026; read October 25, 2026. ↩

20. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-306(a)(11), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

21. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property §2-119(a) and (b)(1), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false, current statute text, read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

22. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property §2-119(b)(2) and (3), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false, current statute text, read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

23. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property §2-119(b)(4), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false, current statute text, read October 25, 2026. ↩

24. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property §2-119(d), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false, current statute text, read October 25, 2026. ↩

25. Montgomery County, Executive Regulation 13-24, §08.00.02.219 (page 64), https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/MCER13-24.pdf, effective December 10, 2024; read October 25, 2026. The county’s building codes list, https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/BuildingCodesMasterList_0.pdf (undated page, read October 25, 2026), shows the adopted code edition. This is one example, not the complete code. ↩ ↩²

26. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-321(d) and (e), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

27. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Public Utilities §7-321(c) and (f), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf, approved May 12, 2026; text read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩²

28. Maryland PSC, Balcony Solar (warnings), https://psc.maryland.gov/regulated-utilities/electricity/renewable-energy/balcony-solar/, current page, read October 25, 2026. ↩

29. Maryland PSC, Balcony Solar (utility contacts, Baltimore Gas & Electric), https://psc.maryland.gov/regulated-utilities/electricity/renewable-energy/balcony-solar/, current page, read October 25, 2026. ↩

30. Maryland Department of Labor, Home Improvement Commission, Understanding Maryland’s Licensing Requirements for Green Technology, https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/mhicgreen.shtml, current page, read October 25, 2026. ↩